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SWOPE. 


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PRINCETON,    N.  J. 


Purchased    by  the 
Mi's.    Robert   Lenox    Kennedy  Church   History   Fund. 

BX  9211  .N628  S86  1898 

^891:  ''^^''^"  Ernest,  i860) 
History  of  the  Big  Spring 


Gilbert    E.    Swope, 


HISTORY 


OF   THE 


Big  Spiiiig  PiesHylenaD  CH 

NEWVILLE,     PA. 
•737== '898. 

BY 

(Silbevt    Ernest    Swope, 

Author  of  '*A  History  of  the  S'wopc  Family/' 
With  an  Introduction  by 

REV.  EBENEZER  ERSKINE,  D.   D. 


NEWVILLE.  PA., 
TIMES  STEAM  PRINTING  HOUSE: 
1898. 


II 


PREFACE. 


In  presenting  this  little  liistory  of  the  Big  Spring  Presbyte- 
rian Church,  we  feel  quite  safe  in  saying  that  we  are  giving  all 
that  is  obtainable  regarding  the  congregation,  and  more  than  we 
expected  to  find  when  we  began  our  work.  Owing  to  the  fact 
that  there  were  no  records  in  possession  of  the  congregation  prior 
to  1830  except  an  old  trustees  minute  book,  the  prospect  for  ob- 
taining data  was  not  very  encouraging.  However,  by  careful 
inquiry  among  the  old  families  of  the  church  and  other  means, 
we  were  enabled  to  find  that  herein  given.  Through  the  kind- 
ness of  Miss  Jennie  W.  Davidson,  a  great  granddaughter  of  Rev. 
Samuel  Wilson,  we  were  given  permission  to  examine  a  great 
mass  of  old  family  papers,  the  accumulation  of  more  than  a  cen- 
tury. Among  these  papers  we  were  fortunate  enough  to  find 
much  valuable  matter,  relating  not  only  to  the  ministry  of  Rev. 
Samuel  Wilson  but  also  to  that  of  some  of  his  predecessors.  No 
regular  session  books  seem  to  have  been  kept  by  the  early  pas- 
tors, all  the  records  found  being  on  detached  pieces  of  paper. 
The  earliest  record  found  bears  date  Dec.  12,  IT68,  and  records  a 
case  of  discipline. 

We  are  indebted  largely  for  the  matter  contained  in  the  sketches 
of  the  pastors  of  the  church  to  the  "Centennial  Memorial  of  the 
Presbytery  of  Carlisle."  We  gi'eatfully  acknowledge  the  interest 
shown  and  the  assistance  given  by  the  pastor  of  the  Big  Spring 
Church,  the  Rev.  Ebenezer  Erskine,  D.  D.  We  are  pleased  to 
api)end  the  address  delivered  by  Dr.  Erskine  at  the  celebrati(m 
of  the  founding  of  Log  College. 

It  is  valuable  as  an  historic  document,  a,nd  finds  here  a  fitting 
place  because  of  its  treatment  on  the  Presbyterian  church  in  the 
Cumberland  Valley. 

Our  thanks  are  also  due  and  very  cheerfully  given  to  Mr. 
John  W.  Strohm,  editor  of  the  "Xewville  Times,"  whose  interest 
in  local  history  and  genealogy  is  well  known,  and  whose  co-op- 
eration has  made  the  publication  of  this  volume  possible. 

GILBERT    E.    SWOPE, 
Aug.  IT,  1898.  Newville,  Pa. 


Ill 


IfntrobuctioiL 


Tliis  brief  and  coin])rehensive  volume  may  be  very  properly  styled  a 
documentary  history  of  the  Bif^  yprinjj:  Presbyterian  Church  and  con- 
gregation, and  a  genealogy  of  many  of  its  families. 

Its  author,  Mr.  Gilbert  E.  Swope,  is  an  enthusiast  on  the  subject  of 
genealogy  and  an  exjjert  in  the  discovery  and  use  of  old  documents 
bearing  on  the  history  of  families  and  churches. 

As  the  result  of  his  patient  and  laborious  researches,  the  names  of 
nearly  all  the  families  of  this  venerable  church  ami  congregation  have 
been  rescued  from  an  impending  oblivion,  and  a  list  of  most  of  its  elders, 
trustees  and  families  have  been  preserved.  No  sessional  records  are  in 
possession  of  the  congregation  prior  to  1830.  It  was  the  custom  of 
many  pastors  prior  to  that  date  to  keep  a  roll  of  members,  of  admis- 
sions to  the  church,  of  baptisms  and  marriages,  and  to  make  a  record 
only  of  cases  of  discipline  and  to  submit  the  same  to  presbytery  for  ex- 
amination and  a]>i)roval,  then  to  consider  it  of  no  further  value  nor 
worthy  of  preservation. 

Mr.  Swope,  discovered  paj)ers  left  by  the  Rev.  Samuel  Wilson, 
pastor  from  1787  to  1799,  stored  away  in  an  old  trunk  and  found  in  the 
garret  of  one  of  his  descen<1ents,  and  gained  access  to  certain  other 
papers  which  had  been  left  by  Rev.  Dr.  Joshua  Williams,  pastor  from 
1802  to  1829,  and  found  in  possession  of  some  of  his  relatives  in  the  dis- 
tant west.  These  documents  have  thrown  a  flood  of  light  upon  the  his- 
tory of  this  church  from  177o  to  18.30,  more  than  half  a  century,  and 
which  if  not  <liscovered,  would  have  soon  been  lost  sight  of  forever. 

It  is  a  great  matter  to  have  recovered  thus  the  names  of  all  the  fam- 
ilies of  that  period,  many  of  them  reaching  back  to  the  origin  of  the 
church,  the  divisions  of  the  congregation  into  districts,  the  names  of  the 
parents  and  children,  and  members  of  the  church  in  each  district;  and 
also  the  names  of  the  elders  to  whose  supervision  these  districts  were 
assigned,  and  still  more  several  lists  of  theological  questions  given  out 
annually  by  Mr.  Wilson  for  the  careful  study  of  the  people,  and  for 
an  examination  on  the  same,  by  pastor  or  elder. 


IV 

The  character  of  these  questions  indicate  not  only  a  high  degree  of 
religious  intelligence  upon  the  part  of  the  minister  l)ut  also  imply  cor- 
responding intelligence  on  part  of  the  people.  These,  in  connection 
with  regular  examinations  of  the  young  on  the  catechism,  and  of  the 
more  advanced  on  chapters  in  the  Confession  of  faith,  go  to  show  the 
modes  of  reUgious  instruction  and  training  peculiar  to  that  period  of 
the  church  and  widely  prevalent  in  other  congregations  of  that  day, 
and  which  in  connection  with  the  faithful  preaching  of  the  word  on  the 
Sabbath,  had  a  most  important  influence  in  the  way  of  awakening  the 
minds  of  the  people  in  relation  to  religious  subjects,  in  the  quickening 
of  religious  thought  and  inquiry,  and  in  the  development  of  well  in- 
structed and  stable  Christians  as  to  matters  of  doctrine  and  duty,  all 
leading  to  exemplary  and  consistent  Christian  living. 

To  trace  the  origin  and  progress  of  individual  churches,  whose  his- 
tory runs  back  to  the  hrst  settlement  of  the  country,  to  give  the  names, 
individuals  and  families  which  have  composed  the  same,  to  put  on 
record  reliable  accounts  of  the  origin,  lives  and  characters  of  the  minis- 
ters, the  distinctive  characteristics  of  their  faith  and  modes  of  conducting 
the  worship  of  their  congregations,  and  of  their  general  pastoral  ser- 
vices ;  to  give  a  true  and  reliable  history  of  their  growth  and  progress, 
as  has  here  been  done  by  Mr.  Swope,  is  to  render  a  very  important  ser- 
vice in  relation  to  the  foundation  and  character  of  the  church  in  this 
country. 

The  Big  Spring  Presbyterian  Church,  as  indicated  by  the  lists  of 
admissions  to  its  membership,  has  been  blessed  with  revivals  of  religion 
from  time  to  time,  through  all  its  history,  giving  increased  vitality  to 
the  church  as  well  as  considerable  accessions  to  its  membership.  Such 
seasons,  of  greater  or  less  power  have  been  enjoyed  in  1794,  1822,  1832, 
1833  and  1834.  The  revivial  of  1877  was  doubtless  one  of  the  most  re- 
markable awakenings  of  the  whole  conmiunity  in  the  history  of  the 
church,  resulting  in  the  admission  of  over  one  hundred  and  twenty 
members  to  the  church  of  all  ages,  on  confession  of  their  faith,  and  of 
some  two  hundred  more  to  the  churches  in  the  town.  A  careful  exam- 
ination into  the  origin  of  our  early  congregations,  as  to  their  ministers 
and  people,  and  as  to  their  standards  of  doctrine  and  form  of  govern- 
ment and  modes  of  worship,  as  learned  from  their  history  and  records, 
is  of  special  importance,  as  throwing  light  upon  the  actual  character  of 
the  church  in  these  respects  from  the  beginning.  Whatever  difficulty 
may  be  experienced  in  some  parts  of  the  country  in  this  respect,  none 
need  be  felt  in  regard  to  the  churches  of  this  valley,  nor  of  the  State  of 
Pennsylvania. 

The  settlement  of  the  Cumberland  Valley  and  the  constitution  of  its 
churches,  is  directly  traceable  to  that  great  providential  movement 
which  took  place  among  the  Scotch  Irish  Presbyterians  settled  in  the 
province  of  Ulster,  in  the  north  of  Ireland,  which  runs  back  to  near  the 


bepniiiiiii  of  tlio  JNtli  (viilniv,  :iii(l  wliii'li  led  to  a  steady  and  increasingr 
stream  of  emigration  from  tiiat  Province  to  this  country,  and  which 
added  fjreatiy  to  tlie  .strength  and  character  of  the  Presbyterian  Church 
in  America.  And  this  state  of  things  in  Ulster,  was  only  a  ]>art  of  that 
wider  movement  wliich  took  jdace  in  Scotland,  England,  France  and 
Holland,  as  well  as  in  Ulster.  The  history  of  Presbyterian  colonization 
in  America,  is  largely  tlie  result  of  pa[)al  and  ])relatic  jjcrsecutions  in 
Europe.  By  the  act  of  uniformity  passed  in  16(52,  two  thousand  Pres- 
byterian ministers  were  cast  out  of  the  Church  of  England.  A  consid- 
erable nundjer  of  wliom  found  refuge  in  this  country,  cliiefly  in  New 
England. 

By  reason  of  the  persecutions  of  the  Reformed  Cliurches  of  France, 
which  were  strictly  Presbyterian  in  government  and  Calvinistic  in  doc- 
trine, and  which  was  consummated  under  Louis  XIV.  by  the  revocation 
of  the  edict  of  Nantes  in  1()85,  two  hundred  thousand  French  protest- 
ants  sullereil  martyrdom,  and  about  seven  hundred  thousand  were 
driven  from  the  kingdom,  many  of  whom  found  tiieir  way  to  this 
country.  Two  thousand  churches,  witli  their  ministers,  were  nearly  ex- 
tirpated by  that  cruel  and  bloody  persecution. 

"  Modern  history,"  it  is  said,  "  hardly  affords  a  parallel  to  the  cruelty 
an<l  oppression  under  which  Scotland  groaned  for  nearly  thirty  years," 
under  the  reigns  of  James  II.  and  of  Charles  I.  and  Charles  II.  and  all 
in  su])}iort  of  Fi)iscoi)acy  and  under  the  instigation  of  the  Bishops. 
i\I altitudes  of  learned  and  pious  ministers  were  ejecte<l  from  their  par- 
ishes, and  ignorant  and  ungodly  men  substituted  in  their  places,  upon 
whose  ministrations,  unedifying  as  they  were,  the  i)eople  were  forced 
to  attend  under  severe  penalties. 

The  ejected  ministers  were  prohibited  from  preaching  or  praying  in 
public,  even  in  fields  or  other  retired  places.  To  enforce  these  oppres- 
sive laws,  exorbitant  fines  were  imposed,  torture  was  freely  resorted  to 
to  extort  evidence,  the  ])risons  were  tilled  with  victims  of  oppression, 
soldiers  were  quartere<l  upon  defenceless  families,  and  allowed  the  great- 
est license  and  many  were  massacred  ujjon  the  public  highways.  It  is 
no  wonder  that  the  Scotch  Presbyterians  abhorred  episcopacy.  In 
their  views  ami  experience,  it  was  identical  with  oppression,  despotism 
and  impiety. 

Considerintr  their  long  continued  persecution,  the  wonder  has  been 
exi>ressed,  that  they  did  not  rise  up  en  masse  and  forsake  the  country. 
The  hope  of  overthrowing  ejnscopacy  and  of  regaining  their  liberties, 
constrained  the  majority  of  them  to  withstand  their  ojipressors.  Emi- 
gration from  Scotland  by  reason  of  such  oppression,  while  not  so  great 
as  might  have  been  exjiected,  was  yet  consiilerable.  Four  thousand 
Presbyterians  are  reported  to  have  come  into  New  Englan<l  prior  to 
l(i4(),  many  of  whom  were  from  Scotland.  In  1729  a  church  was  organ- 
ized  in   Boston,  composed  of  Scotcli  and    Irish   Presbyterians.      The 


VI 

First  Church  in  New  York  City,  composed  chiefly  of  Scotch  and  Irish 
Presbyterians,  was  organized  previous  to  1716,  and  called  the  Rev. 
James  Anderson,  a  Scotch  Presbyterian  minister  from  New  Castle,  Dela- 
ware, to  become  their  first  pastor. 

The  emigrants  from  Scotland  to  east  New  Jersey  were  many  and  in- 
fluential. They  came  in  such  numbers,  says  Bancroft,  as  to  give  to  the 
rising  commonwealth,  a  character  which  a  century  and  a  half  have  not 
effaced.  But  it  was  to  Pennsylvania  and  the  Carolinas,  that  a  larger 
and  increasing  stream  of  emigration  from  Scotland  and  the  North  of 
Ireland  came.    The  latter  in  much  larger  numbers  than  the  former. 

The  Presbyterians  in  Ulster  were  rendered  exceedingly  uncomfortable 
by  reason  of  the  tyrany  and  exactions  of  their  despotic  monarchs,  by 
the  restrictions  and  penalties  imposed  by  parliament,  the  intolerance 
and  persecutions  instigated  by  the  Bishops  and  the  rapacity  and  greed 
of  the  landlords.  Among  the  laws  enacted  intended  to  harass  and  an- 
noy them,  was  what  was  called  the  Test  Act,  which  prohibited  them 
from  holding  any  office  in  DubUn  or  the  province.  This  was  followed 
by  the  Marriage  Act  by  which  they  were  forbidden  to  be  married  by 
their  own  ministers,  and  rendered  liable  to  arraignment  for  immorality 
in  the  ecclesiastical  courts  for  such  marriage.  Worse  than  all,  what  was 
known  as  the  Schism  Act,  was  passed  in  1714,  which  would  have  swept 
the  Presbyterian  Church  of  Ireland  well  nigh  out  of  existence,  had  not . 
Queen  Anne  died  before  it  could  be  enforced. 

These  and  other  like  acts  estranged  the  people  from  their  country, 
and  caused  them  to  turn  tlieir  attention  to  the  new  colonies  then  being 
planted  in  America,  where  they  might  secure  for  themselves  and  fami- 
ilies'  future  homes,  and  the  blessings  of  civil  and  religious  liberty,  de- 
nied them  in  their  own  land.  The  consequence  was  that  as  far  back  as 
1713,  both  ministers  and  people  began  to  come  to  America.  In  this 
great  movement,  the  Kev.  Thomas  Craighead,  a  minister  of  consider- 
able prominence,  with  some  others  led  the  way.  In  1715  he  came  to 
New  England,  in  1724  he  removed  to  Pennsylvania  and  17o7,  became 
the  first  pastor  of  the  Big  Spring  Church.  Some  six  thousand  Scotch 
Ii;ish  are  said  to  have  come  in  1720.  Later  on  they  are  reported  to  have 
come  at  the  rate  of  twelve  thousand  from  year  to  year.  Cumberland 
County,  which  in  the  outset  included  Franklin,  was  chiefly  settled  by 
them.  From  1736  onward,  they  crossed  over  at  Harrisburg  in  great 
numbers  and  settled  in  this  vicinity  along  the  Conodoguinit  and  the 
Big  Spring  more  numerously  than  elsewhere,  by  reason  of  the  junction 
of  tliese  two  streams  of  water  at  nearly  right  angles.  Out  of  these 
sturdy,  rugged  Scotch  Irish  people,  this  church  was  originally  organ- 
ized. 

From  here  they  spread  on  down  the  valley  into  Virginia,  the  Caro- 
linas and  Tennessee,  many  erossins  the  mountains  over  into  Western 
Pennsylvania  and  farther  down  across  into  Kentuckv.  A  thousand  fam- 


VII 

ilies  are  said  to  liave  arriveil  in  the  state  of  North  Carolina  i'roni  the 
more  northerly  settlements  in  17(54.  No  other  country,  says  Dr.  Ram- 
sey, furnished  the  ])rovince  of  South  Carolina  with  so  many  citizens  as 
the  North  of  Ireland.  These  strict  Presbyterians  driven  here  largelj' 
by  tlie  persecution.s  to  which  they  had  been  subjected  at  home,  the 
Scotch,  the  Scotcli  Irish,  the  Dutch  from  Holland  and  the  French 
Huguenots,  laid  the  foundations  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  Boston, 
New  York,  New  Jersey,  Pennsylvania,  INIaryland,  the  Carolinas  and 
Georgia,  through  all  which  sections  of  country  they  settled  in  great 
nund)ers.  In  1705,  the  first  Presbytery  was  organized  in  Philadelphia. 
In  171()  the  tirst  Synod  was  formed.  In  1729  the  Westminster  Standards 
were  adojtted  by  the  Synod. 

This  last  event  took  place  eiglit  years  before  the  organization  of  this 
church.  The  Rev.  Thomas  Craighead,  its  first  minister,  was  a  member 
of  that  Synod  and  voted  for  the  adopting  act. 

Before  the  settlement  of  the  second  ])astor,  the  Rev.  John  Blair,  in 
1742,  the  church  had  divided  into  two  branches,  the  Ul<l  and  the  New 
Side.  Both  .sides,  however,  adhered  with  equal  tenacity  to  the  Stand- 
ards adopted,  and  regarded  themselves  as  identical  in  doctrine,  govern- 
ment and  worship  with  the  Church  of  Scotland. 

While  adojiting  the  Confession  of  Faith  as  containing  the  system  of 
doctrine  set  forth  in  the  Holy  Scriptures,  and  approving  the  form  of 
government  and  the  directory  for  worship,  as  conformable  to  the  word 
of  God,  at  the  same  time  all  who  held  to  the  essential  doctrines  of 
Christianity  were  cordially  invited  and  freely,  welcomed  into  the  com- 
nuinion  of  the  church.  An  important  distinction  has  always  been  made 
between  Christian  and  ministerial  comnninion.  We  are  bound  to  re- 
gard and  treat  as  Christians  all  who  make  a  credible  ]>rofession  of  faith 
in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  and  accept  of  the  essential  doctrines  of  the 
Christian  religion.  The  lowest  terms  of  salvation  are  the  highest  terms 
of  Christian  communion.  What  will  take  a  soul  to  Heaven  should  take 
it  in  the  Church  on  earth. 

The  terms  of  miaisterial  comumnion  are  different.  The  conditions 
upon  which  ministers  are  admitted  to  office  in  the  church  is  not  merely 
acceptance  of  the  essential  doctrines  of  the  .Gospel,  but  the  .sincere 
adoi)tion  of  the  Confessiijn  of  Faith  as  containing  the  system  of  doctrine 
taught  in  the  Scriptures.  Those  called  and  chosen  to  be  teachers  and 
rulers  must  be  .sound  in  the  faith,  ami  therefore  accept  the  standards 
of  tlie  church  as  the  church's  authorized  and  accepted  interpretatiim  of 
the  teacliings  of  God's  most  holy  word. 

No  one  applying  for  admission  to  the  Pre.sbyterian  Church  will  be 
rejected,  nor  any  one  already  a  minister  of  the  church  be  subjected  to 
discii>line  who  is  not  supposed  to  reject  some  of  the  distinctive  <loctrines 
taught  in  this  system  .set  forth  in  the  Confession  of  Faith  and  Cate- 
chisms of  the  Church.     That  .system  is  the  Reformed  or  Calvinistic  sys- 


VIII 

tern  in  contnuliHtinctiun  to  the  Armenian,  Pelagian,  semi-Pelagian  or 
Socinian  systems  held  by  other  branches  of  the  nominally  Christian 
Cliurch. 

It  was  on  this  basis  the  Presbyterian  Church  was  organized  in  this 
country.  On  this  basis  the  church  has  had  a  remarkable  growth.  From 
an  organization  of  live  ministers  and  three  ruling  elders  in  17Q5,  it  has 
grown  in  less  than  two  centuries  into  a  Church  extending  over  all  this 
wide  spread  land  and  into  all  heathen  countries  on  the  same  doctrinal 
basis.  This  church  contains  7,429  ministers,  1,428  candidates  for  the 
ministry,  477  licentiates,  7,631  churches,  27,874  ruhng  elders  and  960,- 
911  church  members.  May  it  ever  continue  to  live  and  prosper  on  the 
same  divine  basis.  EBENEZEK  EKSKINE. 

Newville,  Pa.,  August,  1898. 


■ifflfrcC-  i,     ' 


Rev.    Ebenezeh    Erskine,    D.    D. 


The     I3ig     Spring 

Iprcsb^tevian  Cbuvcb. 


HE  lands  in  the  "Kittoclitinny",  or  present 
Cumberland  Valley,  were  not  purchased  from 
the  Indians  until  October  1736,  and  wei'e  not, 
therefore,  before  that  time  open  for  sale.  But  for  seve- 
ral years  |)rior  to  that  period  the  agents  of  the  proprie- 
tors knowing  the  i'eelings  of  the  Indians  to  be  favoral)le 
had  encouraged  settlers  to  come  hither,  and  had  issued 
to  them  special  licenses  for  the  securing  and  settlement 
of  such  lands  beyond  the  Susquehanna  as  might  please 
them.     ■•' 

After  the  lands  of  the  valley  were  finally  thrown 
open  to  settlers,  there  was  a  great  influx  of  emigrants, 
many  coming  from  the  old-settled  counties  of  Lancaster 
and  Chester,  and  many  directly  from  Ireland.  Most  of 
the  settlers  being  Irish  and  Scotch  Irish,  very  few  of 
other  nationalities  were  found  here  until  a  much  hiter 
date.  These  people  first  sought  the  land  bordering  on 
the  streams  of  water  because  of  the  convenience  of  an 
abundance  of  water,  and  of  timber  which  grew  along 
the  water  courses.  Thus  we  find  that  very  soon  after 
the  land  was  thrown  open  for  settlement,  the  invit- 
ing lands  of  this  vicinity  attracted  a  large  population  to 
tlie  l)orders  of  the  Conodoguinet  Creek  and  the  Big 
Spring.  One  of  tlie  first  acts  of  our  forefathers  after 
locating  land  and  building  homes  lor  themselves  and 
families  was  to  ])rovide  a  spiritual  home  or  place  for  the 
worship  of  God. 

*    Note  Hi.st.  Franklin  Cu.  McCaulev. 


10  THE      BIG       SPRING 


The  Presbyterians  who  settled  in  the  neighborhood  of 
the  Big  Spring  organized  a  congregation  not  hiter  than 
the  spring  of  1737.  On  the  22nd  of  June  the  people 
of  Hopewell  petitioned  Presbytery  for  their  eoncurrence 
in  drawing  a  call  to  the  Rev.  Thomas  Craighead.  About 
this  time  the  name  of  this  j^eople  was  changed  from  the 
people  of  the  Conodoguinet  to  the  people  of  Penns- 
boro  and  Hopewell,  the  line  having  been  run  in  1735 
from  the  north  to  the  south  mountain  by  way  of  the 
Big  Spring  dividing  the  valley.  All  e^ist  of  that  line 
was  called  Pennsboro  and  all  west  of  it  Hopewell.  By 
the  "people  of  Hopewell"  referred  to  in  the  call  to  Mr. 
Craighead  no  doubt  were  included  the  congregation  at 
Middle  Spring  as  well  as  Big  Spring.  They  were  both 
known  by  the  general  name  of  "Hopewell"  and  indi- 
vidually Big  Spring  as  Lower  Hopewell,  and  Middle 
Spring  as  Upper  Hopewell.  The  congregation  of  Ui)- 
per  Pennsboro  objected  to  the  call  to  Mr.  Craighead  and 
the  establishment  of  a  church  on  the  Big  Spring  as  an 
encroachment  upon  their  territory,  as  there  was  a  rule  of 
Presbytery  not  allowing  congregations  to  be  located 
within  ten  miles  of  each  other.  The  Presbytery  ap- 
pointed a  committee  to  look  over  the  territory  and  con- 
fer with  the  people  on  the  calling  of  a  pastor  and  the 
location  of  a  house  of  worship.  This  conference  was 
held  at  the  house  of  James  McFarlane  on  the  Big 
Spring  in  1737.  The  committee  reported  to  Presbytery 
in  November  1737,  and  notwithstanding  the  urgency  of 
the  congregation  and  the  imjiatience  of  Mr.  Craighead, 
action  was  deferred  until  the  next  year.  On  Aug.  31, 
1738,  Presbytery  appointed  Mr.  Alexander  Craighead  to 
install    Mr.   Thomas  Craighead  the   second   Friday    in 


I  •  i;  1  "S 1  ?  Y  TVAi  TAN       VU  VRCH .  1  1 


Octohcr  5111(1  tlial  lie  "send  ;iii  c'dic't  to  be  piiMishcd 
timc'ously  iK't'orc."  JNIr.  Ch'aii;lieud's  j)astorate  was  a 
short  one  as  lie  died  the  fbllowini;'  year.  At  this  time  lie 
was  well  advanced  in  life,  but  his  mental  powers  con- 
tinued in  their  full  vigor.  "He  still  preached  with 
great  power  and  impressiveness.  Under  his  disij  )urses 
the  peo])le  were  at  times  deeply  and  ])owerfully  moved 
and  often  when  dismissed  were  unwilling  to  leave. 

On  one  of  these  occasions  near  the  close  of  April 
17o9,  at  a  communion  season  in  the  Eig  Spring  Church, 
wdien  having  ])reache(l  until  quite  exhausted,  he  waved 
his  hand  being  unable  to  pronounce  the  benediction 
and  exclaimed  :  'Farewell  !  Farewell'  and  sank  down 
and  expired  in  the  pulpit."  Tradition  says  that  his  re- 
mains were  buried  beneath  the  present  church  edifice, 
but  this  is  very  doubtful  as  this  church  was  not  l)uilt 
until  fifty  years  after  his  death.  It  is  more  probable 
that  lie  Avas  buried  beneath  the  church  he  built  and  in 
which  he  preached,  as  was  the  custom  at  that  time. 


12  THE      BIG      SPRING 


PASTORATE  OF  REV.  JOHN  BLAIR,  D.  D. 


After  the  demise  of  Rev.  Thomas  Craio'head  the  Bi2: 
Spring  congregation  was  without  a  regularly  installed 
pastor  until  1742.  They  had  been  supplied  however 
during  this  time  by  Mr.  James  Lyon  of  Ireland,  who 
was  then  under  the  care  of  the  Presbyter)^  of  New 
Castle,  and  by  others  sent  out  by  Presbytery  of  Done- 
gal. On  the  27th  of  December,  1742,  Rev.  John  Blair 
was  installed  pastor  of  the  Big  Spring  Churc^li  in  con- 
nection with  the  Middle  Spring  and  Rocky  Spring  con- 
gregations. The  records  kept  dui'ing  his  ministry  are 
the  earliest  positive  evidence  we  have  of  the  three 
churches  being  under  one  pastor.  Although  it  is  very 
probable  that  Rev.-  Thomas  Craighead  preached  in  those 
churches  at  the  same  time  he  ministered  to  the  people  at 
Big  S])ring.  Rev.  S.  S.  Wylie,  in  his  history  of  the 
Middle  Spring  Church,  seems  quite  positive  of  the  fact, 
and  cites  very  plausible  evidence  to  sustain  his  position. 
If  the  people  of  Big  Spring  were  unable  to  support  a 
pastor  alone  in  1742,  and  later,  it  is  not  very  probable 
that  they  could  do  so  in  1738. 

We  learn  from  the  sessional  records  of  the  Middle 
Spring  Church  (1742)  that  "the  minister  and  elders  of 
Big  Spring,  Middle  Spring,  and  Rocky  Spring,  met  at 
Middle  Spring  in  order  to  settle  the  division  of  the 
ministers'  labors  among  the  three  congregations."  They 
agreed  upon  the  following  arrangemenr,  "that  the 
ministers'  labors  be  equally  divided  in  a  third  part  to 
each  place,  as  being  most  for  the  glory  of  God  and  good 
of  his  people."  It  was  also,  "upon  motion  of  the 
elders  of  Big  Spring,  left  to  them,   the  people,  and  Mr. 


PRESBYTERIAN       CHURCII.  1 3 


Blair,  to  converse  ainong  theiiiselves  in  respect  to  the 
snl)scri])tions  of  the  Big  Spring  Congregation."  Mr. 
Blair  during  his  ministry  here  resided  at  Middle  Spring 
on  a  farm  of  two  hundred  and  twelve  acres  the  warrant 
of  which  bears  date  ()ct()l)er  r)tli,  1743.  It  is  said  that 
"he  and  his  wife,  with  their  hired  servants,  lived  in  a 
style  quite  above  tlieir  ])lain  country  parishioners.  The 
people  were  extremely  kind  to  jNIr.  J^lair  and  his  young 
wife,  so  that  tiiey  often  had  a  superabundance  of  the 
good  things  of  tliis  life."  Just  how  long  Mr.  Blair  con- 
tinued in  this  field  of  labor  is  uncertain.  Webster  in 
his  history,  and  Sprague  in  his  annals  of  the  American 
Pulpit,  who,  quotes  from  Webster,  both  give  the  date  of 
his  leaving  the  "Three  Springs"  as  December  28,  1748. 
The  last  record  in  the  session  book  kept  during  his 
ministry  at  Middle  Spring  is  dated  February  8th,  1749. 
All  agree  that  JMr.  Blair  was  driven  from  his  field  of 
labor  by  the  incursions  of  the  Indians.  There  were  no 
Indian  troubles  in  1749,  l)ut  after  the  defeat  of  Ih-ad- 
dock  July  9,  1755,  and  the  retreat  of  Dunbar,  this 
valley  was  sw^pt  by  fire,  sword,  scalping  knife,  and  the 
tomahawk  of  the  cruel  savage.  Hundreds  of  people 
left  the  valley  foi-  the  interior  counties  and  others  took 
refuge  in  the  larger  towns  and  forts  of  the  valley.  It  is 
not  imj^robable  that  Mr.  Blair  was  among  those  who  left 
the  valley  for  safety,  and  we  are  inclined  to  accept  the 
opinion  of  those  who  give  his  departure  as  being  1755, 
or  even  later.  Another  evidence  of  his  presence  here  at 
a  late  date  is  the  following  receij^t  in  the  hands  of  Rev. 
S.  S.  Wylie.  "Septend)er  11th,  1757,  received  from  John 
Johnson,  2  £  and  2  d.  which  appears  to  me  to  be  in  full 
of  stepens  dueRev.  John  ]>lair  "by  me,  David   Megaw." 


14  THE      BIG       SPRING 


PASTORATE  OF  REV.  GEO.  DUFFIELD,  D.  D. 


Probably  owing  to  the  distracted  condition  of  the 
country  resuUing  from  the  Indian  troubles  a  successor  to 
Rev.  John  Blair  was  not  called  until  1759.  In  that 
year  the  congregations  of  Carlisle  and  Big  Spring  united 
in  a  call  to  the  Rev.  George  Duffield,  I).  D.,  but  he  was 
not  installed  until  the  third  AVednesday  of  September, 
1759.  According  to  the  terms  of  his  call,  one  third  of 
his  time  was  to  be  given  to  Big  Spring  and  two  thirds  to 
Carlisle.  In  1761,  an  effort  was  made  by  the  Big 
Spring  congregation  to  obtain  the  one  half  of  Mr.  Duf- 
field's  labors.  To  this,  the  congregation  of  Carlisle 
objected  and  gave  notice  l)y  commissioners  that  if  Pres- 
bytery would  not  allow  them  the  two  thirds  of  his  time 
they  w^ould  at  the  next  meeting  make  application  for  all 
his  time.  At  the  next  meeting  of  Presbytery  after  con- 
sidering the  claims  of  each  party  it  was  decided  in  view 
of  Mr.  Duffield  not  being  physically  able  to  endure  the 
fatigue  of  giving  one-half  his  time  to  Big  Spring,  that 
he  should  give  one  third  of  his  time  to  Big  Spring  and 
tw^o  thirds  to  Carlisle  as  agreed  upon  when  the  call  was 
made  out,  and  that  the  salary  should  be  in  the  same 
proportion.  This  arrangement  continued  until  1769 
when  Mr.  Duffield's  relation  to  Big  Spring  was  dissolved 
on  account  of  the  salary  promised,  having  been  allowed 
to  fall  in  arrears. 


PRESBYTERIAN       CHURCH.  15 


pastoratp:  of  rev.  wili.iam  linn,  1).  J). 


The  siuressor  of  Rev.  Dr.  Duificld  ;is  pastor  oF  the 
Big  Spring  congregation  wa«  the  Rev.  William  J /inn. 
He  received  a  call  from  this  congregation  April  9,  1777, 
and  Avas  installed  October  8,  1777.  Tlie  congregation 
at  this  time  seems  to  have  increased  sufficiently  to  justify 
them  in  securing  the  services  of  a  pastor  for  themselves 
alone.  Mr.  Linn  remained  as  pastor  of  the  congrega- 
tion until  1784  when  he  resigned  to  become  Principal  of 
Washington  Academy,  in  Somerset  County,  Md.  The 
relations  of  ]\Ir.  Linn  and  the  Big  Spring  congregation 
seem  to  have  1)een  very  }>leasant.  In  letters  in  my  poss- 
ession Avritten  by  him  to  his  friend  John  Heap  then  liv- 
ing in  Baltimore  he  expresses  much  affection  for  his  late 
parishioners  the  congregation  of  Big  Spring.  In  one  of 
these  letters  written  from  Washington  Academy  June 
28,  1785,  he  gives  the  imjiression  that  the  congregation 
of  Big  Spring  recalled  him  to  become  their  pastor.  We 
quote  from  it  as  follows  "The  invitation  from  Big 
Spring  is  singular  and  unexpected,  and  lays  me  under 
additional  ol)ligations  to  that  people.  I  would  fain 
enough,  if  it  was  prudent  and  consistent  with  duty,  re- 
turn to  my  old  walks  and  old  field.  I  have  not  refused 
the  invitation  from  Big  S])ring,  nor  have  I  greatly  en- 
couraged it.  The  same  line  I  have  persued  as  to  }n'os- 
pects  held  out  from  Elizabethtown.  I  am  really  un- 
determined and  know  not  what  to  do.  Big  Spring  is 
most  eliii;ible  l)ecaus(^  most  obscure  and  retired."  We 
regret  very  nuich  that  a  very  careful  search  has  failed 
to  reveal  a  record  of  the  ministerial  acts  of  Dr.  Linn  or 
either  of  his  predecessors. 


16  THE      BIG      SPRING 


THE  PASTORATE  OF  REV.  SAMUEL  WILSON, 


After  the  resignation  of  Rev.  William  Linn  there  was 
a  vacancy  of  three  years  in  the  Big  Spring  Church. 
Just  why  the  pulpit  was  vacant  for  so  long  a  time  we 
are  unable  to  state,  but  we  know  that  efforts  were  made 
to  secure  a  pastor.  On  the  21st  of  March,  178(),  a  call 
was  extended  to  the  Rev.  Samuel  Wilson.  The  call  was 
accepted  and  Mr.  Wilson  was  installed  June  20,  1787. 
His  pastorate  was  one  of  activity  and  prosperity  for  the 
congregation.  The  different  de|)artments  of  church 
work  were  well  organized  and  good  results  followed. 
Many  accessions  were  made  to  the  church,  anew  church 
building  was  erected,  and  the  Borough  of  Newville  laid 
out  on  the  church  lands.  Mr.  Wilson  was  pains-taking 
and  accurate  in  keeping  a  record  of  his  church  work, 
and  fortunately  the  records  have  been  preserved  although 
hidden  in  a  garret  for  a  century,  and  just  brought  to 
light.  These  records  we  are  glad  to  give  as  they  are 
valuable  not  only  to  the  church  but  to  the  community. 
Mr.  Wilson  after  a  faithful  ministry  of  almost  thirteen 
years  closed  his  life  as  pastor  of  the  congregation.  Mar. 
4th,  1799. 


CALL    EXTENDED    TO    KEV.    SAMUEL    WILSON, 


"We,  the  subscribers  of  this  paper,  members  of  the 
Presbyterian  Congregation  of  Big  Spring,  taking  into 
consideration  that  we  have  been  for  a  considerable  time 
without  a  gospel  minister,  by  the  removal  of  the  Rev. 
Mr.  William  Linn,  our  late  worthy  pastor,  and  being 
satisfied  with  the  piety,  learning,  character  and  minister- 


riUOJSli  YTEKl  AN       ClHJJtM  I . 


10 


ial  qualifications  of  Mr.  Sanuiel  AVilson,  preaclicr  of 
the  gosj)el,  of  whom  we  have  had  trial  hy  his  })reaeliinii; 
among  us,  do  here])y  invite,  call  and  entreat  you,  the 
said  Samut'l  Wilson,  to  hee<mie  oiii*  minister,  and  to  take 
charge  and  oversight  of  our  souls  in  the  Lord.  We 
promise  you  all  due  ohedience  in  the  Lord,  and  that  we 
will  attend  the  divine  ordinances,  administered  by  you, 
and  submit  to  your  discipline  according  to  the  rules  of 
our  Society,  and  w^e  entreat  the  Reverend  Presbytery  of 
Donegal,  to  tJike  the  said  Mr.  Samuel  Wilson  on  trial  for 
the  holy  ministry,  and  on  his  being  found  qualified,  to 
ordain  him  as  a  minister.  In  witness  wdiereof  we  have 
subscribed  this  paper  at  Big  Spring,  this  twenty-first 
day  of  March,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord,  one  thousand, 
seven  hundred  and  eighty-six." 


John  McKeehan. 
Sanuiel  JNTcCormick. 
Hugh  Laughlin. 
David  Ralston. 
Robert  Patterson. 
John  Bell. 
S.  Cunningham. 
James  Graham. 
Hugh  Patton. 
Margaret  McKcan. 
Jrio.  Ewing. 
Solomon  Lightcap. 
AVilliam  Giffen. 
R(jl)ert  Bovard. 
William  Hodge. 
Charles  Leiper. 
Wni.  McFarlane. 


John  Reid. 
John  Hodge,  Sr. 
William  Duncan. 
James  Irwine. 
John  Brown. 
John  O'Neal. 
William  Douglass. 
Alexander  Officer. 
James  Officer. 
Thomas  Espey. 
James  Gillespie. 
Stnnuel  Hawthorn. 
James  Robinston. 
Ah'xander  Leckey. 
John  McFarland. 
Richard  Woods. 
James  Johnson. 


20 


THE      BIG      SPUING 


Robert  Bell. 
Alex.  Laughlin. 
Sam'l.  Finley. 
Samuel  Blair. 
Thomas  Jacob. 
Thomas  Buchanan. 
Joseph  McKibben. 
John  Allison. 
John  Bell. 
Jos.  Pollock. 
Jas.  Laughlin. 
Robert  Hutchison. 
Atchison  Laughlin. 
John  Mitchell. 
Samuel  Mathers. 
William  Wilson. 
Francis  Donald. 
James  McQuon. 
James  Wilson. 
George  Little. 
John  Brown. 
Jarmon  Jacobs. 
John  Davidson. 
Alexander  Thompson. 
Robert  Shannon. 
Joseph  Parks. 
William  McCracken. 


Samuel  Lindsay. 
Matthew  Wilson. 
William  Lindsay. 
John  Whiten,  Jr. 
EUzabeth  McCullough. 
Thomas  Grier. 
Ann  Browster. 
John  Lusk. 
David  Lusk. 
William  Lusk. 
Alexander  McBride,  Jr. 
William  Milligan. 
Agnes  Irwin e. 
William  Hunter. 
Wilham  Walker. 
Robert  Walker. 
Robert  Patterson. 
James  Turner. 
Adam  Bratton. 
Joseph  Walker. 
William  Hunter. 
James  Huston. 
Catherine  Brown. 
Margaret  McClure. 
James  Armstrong. 
Jared  Graham. 
Margaret  McFarland. 


SUBSCRIBERS  TO  THE    SALARY    OF    REV.    SAMUEL    WILSON. 


"Big  Spring,  Cumberland  Co.  Pa.,  March  21,  1786. 
We,  the  subscribers  of  this  paper  and  members  of 


PRESBYTERIAN       CHURCH.  21 


the  Presbyterijui  C'Ongregiition  of  J^ig  Spring,  do  lu'ie- 
by  bind  jind  ol)lige  ourselves  to  pay  annually  to  Mr. 
Bamuel  Wilson,  preacher  of  the  gospel,  on  his  being  or- 
dained to  be  our  niinister,  and  while  he  shall  diseharge 
the  duties  of  the  said  office,  the  sum  of  one  hundred 
and  fifty  pounds,  Pennsylvania  Currency  in  specie. 
AVe  will  also  allow  him  the  use  of  the  house  and  glebe 
])Ossesse(l  by  our  former  minister,  with  sufficient  security 
for  the  payment  of  the  above  sum  during  his  incum- 
bency." 

d. 
Alexander  Laughlin, 
John  Davidson, 
Robert  Shannon, 
David  Williamson, 
Thomas  Buchanan, 
Alexander  Thompson, 
James  Jack, 
William  Denning, 
Andrew  Bell, 
John  Allison, 
Robert  Patterson, 
David  Ralston, 
John  McKeehan, 
Hugh  Laughlin, 
John  BelC 
Jeremiah  McKibben, 
Jame«  Graham, 
Joseph  Parks, 
Charles  Luper, 

George  McKeehan,  1       5 

Hugh  Patton,  1     10 


t. 

s. 

10 

If) 

5 

10 

5 

10 

5 

10 

15 

10 

10 

5 

10 

10 

15 

22  THE      BIG       SPRING 

£.      S.      d. 

Margaret  McKean,  10 

William  Giffin,  15 

William  Hodge,  1       5 

Alexander  McKeeliaii,  1 

William  McCracken,  1     10 

William  McFarlane,                 .  1     10 

Samuel  McCormick,  1       5 

William  Laughlin,  1     15 

Thomas  Jacob,  1 

Andrew  Walker,  15 

Rannuel  Blair,  1       o 

Samuel  Findley,  1     10 

S.  Cunningham,  1 

Jno.  Ewing,  1 

Robert  Bovard,  10 

Hannah  Bovard,  10 

Solomon  Lightcap,  1       5 

Jas.  Pollock,  1 

Jas.  Laughlin,  1     10 

Atchison  Laughlin,  1 

Robert  Hutchison,  1 

John  Mitchell^  7     6 

Samuel  Mathers,  1       5 

Jarmon  Jacobs,  1 

John  Reed,  15 

John  Hodge,  Sr,  5 

AVilliam  Duncan,  8     6 

James  Irvine,  3 

John  Brown,  2 

MEMBERS  RECEIVED  INTO  THE  BIG  SPRING  PRESBYTERIAN 
CHURCH  BY  THE  REV.  SAMUEL  WILSON. 


PRESBYTEKIAN       CHURCH. 


23 


This  list  is  not  complete  as  it  does  not  begin  until  four 
years  after  he  was  installed  pastor  of  the  church. 

JUNE  1791. 
Samuel  Anderson  and  William  McNicholas  admitted 
from  Ireland. 


Isaac  Shannon, 
.  Jean  iShannon, 
Margaret  McFarlane. 
Jennie  iVdams. 
John  Connelly. 
Thomas  Glenn. 

Martha  Ewing. 
Samuel  Fenton. 
John  Parks. 
Eleanor  Reid. 
John  Boyd. 
Jean  Ewing. 
Ann  Fenton. 

Joseph  Gourd. 
Isabel  Anderson. 
Robert  Officer. 
Margaret  Gourd. 

F.  Work. 

Robert  Sterrit. 

Mrs.  Sterrit,  his  wife. 

A.  Elliott. 

James  Fenton. 

Gabriel  McKimins. 


Alexander  Glenn. 

Jean  Glenn. 

John  Laughlin. 

Margaret  Carson. 

Ann  Espey. 

Ruth  Hamilton. 
SEP.  39,  1791. 

Mary  Morrison. 

Katherine  Jacob. 

William  Porterfield. 

Mary  Walker. 

Robert  INIorrison. 

John  Reid. 

John  Adams. 
HAY  23,  1792. 

Mary  Laughlin. 

David  Officer. 

John  Anderson. 

Mary  Mathers. 
OCT.  18,  1792. 

Jennie  Hannon. 

Hugh  Bryson. 

Daughter  of  John  Purdy 

Hannah  Carson. 

Mary  Laughlin. 
MAY  29,  1793. 

John  Carson,  Jr. 


24 


THE      BIG      SPRING 


Rosaniia  McFarlane. 
Peggy  Johnson. 


John  Patton. 
Hezekiah  Patton. 
OCT.  19,  1793- 


Sidney  Forhner. 
Betsy  McKeehan. 
Martha  Gillespie. 
Daughter  of  W.  Ewing. 
Katherine  Forhner. 
Jennie  Johnson. 
Alexander  Work. 


Kobert  Gillespie. 
George  Gillespie. 
Thomas  Jacob. 
Elizabeth  Jacob. 
M.    Thompson. 
Mary  Johnson. 
Eliz.  Sterrit. 
Jane  McCormick. 
Mary  Wilson. 
James  Patton. 
Saml.  Emit. 
Robert  Johnson. 
John  Shannon. 

Matthew  Laughlin. 
Phebe  Laughlin. 
Priscilla  Forhner. 
Mary  Forhner. 
Jean  Plain. 


Samuel  Moyer  and  wife. 
Elizabeth  Martin. 
Betsy  McFarlane. 
Nathaniel  Gillespie. 
Posanna  Work. 
Jared  Martin,  Jr. 

MAY     1794- 

Mary  Shannon. 
Margaret  Shannon. 
Joseph  Shannon. 
Jane  McKinsey. 
Mary  Shannon. 
Samuel  Bryson. 
Sarah  McEntire. 
Thomas  McCormick. 
James  Lindsey  and  wife. 
Joseph  McCormick. 

McGoffine. 

Major  Finley. 
Polly  Finley. 
SEPT.     30,      1794- 

James  Moor. 
Martha  Adams. 
Rob.  Kilgore  and  wife. 
James  McGoffine. 


MAY     20,     1795. 

Thomas  Morton  and  wife,    Joseph  Morton  and   wife, 


PRE8BYTEKIAN       CHURCH. 


25 


j\Hss  RjiniHey,  James  Purdy. 

OCT.     20,     1795. 
Mary  Pollock,   Kiitli   Cook,   Nancy   Hughs,    \>i/c  of 
Alex.  Glenn. 

JUNE     8,     1796. 

flolin  DavidHon. 


Mary  Green. 
Adam  Wilson. 
Andrew  Taylor. 
Hugh  Thompson. 
Samuel  Thompson. 
Margaret  McKeehan. 
Elizabeth  Espy. 

Betsy  Work. 
Susanna  Work. 
Nancy  Brown. 
Alexander  Thompson. 
Leary  McCormick. 
Peggy  Thompson. 
David  Williamson. 


Elizabeth  Johnson. 
Mrs.  Isaiah  Graham, 


James  Montgomery. 

Wm.  Connely  and  wife. 

John  Green. 

Sally  Green. 

Mary  Rjunsey. 

Jolin  Peeples  and  wife. 

Nancv  Douc;las. 


Elizabeth  Davidson. 

Elizabeth  Geddes. 

Dr.  John  Geddes. 

Nancy  Roberts. 

Sam.  Lightcap  and  wife. 

Obadiah  Patterson  and  wife. 
OCT.  1796. 

Tamar  Williamson. 

Nancy  Shannon. 

Daniel  McGuire. 

Theo.  McClure. 

Ginny  Bell. 

Susanna  Hutchison. 

Martha  Hutchison. 
JUNE  14,  1797. 

Samuel  McElheny. 
OCT.  25,  1797. 

Jenny  Eliot. 
AUG.  29,  1798. 

Mrs.  Bryson. 

Elizaljeth  Espey. 

Robt.  Peeples  and  wife. 

Isaiah  Graham. 


26  THE      BIG      SPRING 


A    PETITION    FOR    THE   ELECTION    OF    AN    ELDER. 


"To  the  Rev.  Samuel  Wilson  and  the  session   of  the 
Big  Spring  Congregation. 

The  humble  petition  of  the  subscribers  shovveth  that 
in  consequence  of  the  death  of  Mr.  John  Lusk,  elder  of 
this  quarter,  we  were,  and  still  continue  to  l^e  in  want  of 
such  a  guardian  to  preside  over  us  as  a  ruling  elder. 
We  therefore  petition  your  honors  to  grant  us  your  con- 
sent to  nominate  and  appoint  one  of  our  number  for  our 
elder.  And  in  consequence  of  our  return  of  an  elder 
your  wisdoms  will  be  j^leased  to  confirm  our  choice,  if 
no  legal  objections  appear  to  hinder.  And  your  pe- 
titioners as  in  duty  will  ever  pray  &o. 
James  Ramsey.  William  Browster. 

Nathan  Ramsey.  John  Huston. 

Thomas  Woods.  Thomas  Norton. 

Andrew  Huston.  Archibald  McCullough. 

Samuel  Woods.  Joseph  Turner. 

William  Woods,  Jr.  John  Turner. 

Alexander  McBride,  Jr.  William  Roan. 

AVilliam  Gladen.  Nathaniel  Eckels. 

Andrew  Browster.  William  Lusk." 

"To  The  Rev.  Mr.  Wilson  :— Reverend  Sir, 
I  enclose  you  the  petition  of  the  Southern  part  of  the 
Big  Spring  Congregation,  with  a  desire  that  they  should 
be  heard,  and  if  so  it  will  be  convenient  for  the  quarter 
to  meet  at  the  house  of  Mr.  James  Ramsey  to  have  the 
election,  and  the  sooner  the  better  with  conveniency. 
This  from  your  sincere  friend,  Alexander    McBride,    Jr. 

Dec.  10,  1789." 


PRESBYTERIAN       CHURCH.  li 


PKOCEEDINGS    OF    A    IMKKTINCi    OF    SESSION. 


"The  session  of  the  ]>ig  Sprinii;  Congregation  serious- 
ly affected  on  the  one  hand  with  the  deehning  state  of 
religion,  the  decay  of  real  piety,  and  on  the  other  with 
the  prevalence  of  vice  and  profanity,  view  it  as  a  matter 
truly  distressing  the  many  professors  of  Christ's  holy  re- 
ligion who  attend  upon  the  distinguishing  ordinances  of 
his  church  manifest  such  a  dis})Osition  to  encourage 
balls  and  otJier  criminal  amusements.  Also  that  they 
allow  themselves  in  drunkenness,  in  the  proftination  of 
God's  name,  in  various  species  of  gambling,  a  neglect  of 
family  worshi}),  as  well  as  attending  upon  the  jtublic 
means  of  grace,  and  notwithstanding  live  in  the  belief 
that  they  have  a  continued  right  to  the  sealing 
ordinances  of  the  church  and  are  offended  if  these  are 
refused  to  them.  Session,  very  sensible  that  there'  is  a 
fault  in  such  conduct,  and  not  desirous  to  clear  them- 
selves, afraid  that  a  charge  of  unfaithfulness  to  God  and 
the  souls  of  men  should  justly  fall  on  them  lest  tliey 
])artake  in  the  sins  of  others,  unanimously  agree  to  en- 
deavor a  reformation  in  these  things.  They  know  well 
that  wherever  the  ffiult  may  lie  it  is  not  in  the  discipline 
of  the  cluirch  whicli  makes  all  the  errors  enumerated 
censurable,  but  rather  in  a  lack  of  discipline  among 
ourselves.  In  order  to  a  reform,  tliey  are  assured  that 
some  change  must  take  place  witli  respect  to  the  mode 
of  admission.  They  have  no  doubt  that  the  evil  in 
many  cases  may  lie  traced  to  a  delicacy  in  mendjers 
with  persons  applying  on  the  Sabbath  for  the  baptism  of 
children.  If  re[)orts  have  been  in  circulation  unfavor- 
able to  Christian  character,  there  is   then   little  time  or 


28  THE      BIG      SPRING 


opportunity  to  inquire  into  them,  and  it  has  been  feared 
that  if  persons  were  then  kept  back,  offense  would  be 
taken,  and  no  doubt  reports  are  sometimes  groundless. 
To  prevent  then  the  growing  evil  and  the  prostitution  of 
holy  ordinances,  the  members  of  session  respectively 
engage  that  they  will  use  every  lawful  means  which  be- 
longs to  their  office  in  order  to  a  knowledge  of  those 
who  are  members  of  their  own  district,  that  they  will 
not  recommend  any  one  chargeable  with  any  of  the 
glaring  crimes  above  taken  notice  of.  It  is  unanimously 
agreed  in  session  that  in  the  future  that  any  persons 
who  have  in  view  to  attend  upon  the  ordinances  of 
bajotism  some  time  before,  signify  their  intention  to  the 
member  of  session  in  the  district  in  which  he  lives, 
or  if  there  be  no  member  of  session  in  the  district,  the 
one  most  convenient,  so  that  the  member  previous  to  his 
recommending  him  may  have  an  opportunity  of  con- 
versing with  him  before  he  recommends  him,  and  that 
the  blessing  of  God  may  succeed  this  attemj^t  for  the  re- 
formation of  this  society,  upon  whose  account  it  is  essay- 
ed, is  the  earnest  prayer  of  the  respective  meml)ers." 


MEMBERS        AND        ADHERENTS       OF       THE       BIG      SPRING 
CHURCH,   1789.  1 


About  1789  Rev.  Sanuiel  Wilson  made  lists  of  mem- 
bers and  adherents  of  the  church  dividing  them  into 
districts,  and  over  each  district,  an  elder  was  placed. 
The  lists  give  the  ages  of  the  persons,  and  states 
whether  they  were  in  communion,  not  in  communion, 
and  whether  they  were  baptized.  The  communicant 
memljers  of  the  church  are  shown  in    these   lists   bv    a 


PRESBYTERIAN       CHURCH.  29 

star  following  a  name.  There  is  no  date  at- 
tached to  the  lists,  but  eom})arin_i>-  the  ages  given  of 
persons  whose  ages  we  positively  know,  we  feel  (juite 
safe  in  saying,  the  lists  were  made  in  1789.  Dating 
back  from  that  time,  the  number  of  years  given  to  each 
person,  will  give  al)()ut  the  year  in  which  they  were 
born. 

One  of  the  duties  of  the  elder,  was,  to  visit  the  people 
and  catechise  tliem.  Questions  having  been  previously 
])repare(l  by  the  pastor  and  given  to  the  members  to  com- 
mit to  memory,  or,  at  least  to  obtain  a  correct  under- 
standing of  them.  These  visitations  of  the  elder  were 
made  annually. 
JOHN  Carson's  district.  questions  and  members. 

1.  Who  was  the  penman  of  the  Book  of  Genesis? 
When  is  it  generally  thought  to  have  been  written,  and 
wliat  length  of  time  does  that  history  contain  ? 

2.  What  are  the  principal  doctrines  and  events 
recorded  in  this  book  ? 

o.  What  do  you  understtmd  by  creation,  and  is  it  a 
woi'k  peculiar  to  God  only  ? 

4.  What  seems  to  be  the  order  of  creation,  and 
wliat  was  the  work  of  each  day  ? 

5.  What  are  those  called  who  do  not  acknowledge 
divine  revelation  ?  AVhat  objections  do  they  offer 
against  ]\Ioses  and  his  writings,  and  how  are  their  argu- 
ments confuted  ? 

().  What  rational  arguments  can  be  offered  in  favor 
of  Moses,  that  his  mission  was  from  God  and  that  his 
writings  were  of  divine  inspiration  ? 

7.  What  scripture  prophesies  have  been  fulfilled 
and  what  are  at  present  fulfilling  or  yet  to  be  fulfilled  ? 


30 


THE      BIG      SPRING 


These  with  the  ninth    chapter 
Faith  to  be  examined  upon. 


of  the    Confession    of 


Eobert  Mickie  68, 

Agnes  Mickie  64, 

David  Mickie  22, 

Elenor  Mickie  20, 

Hannah  Mickie  18, 
Phillis,  a  negro. 
Thomas  E.  Fullerton  21, 

Isabel  Fullerton  18, 

John  Ackman  30, 

Mary  Ackman  28, 

Elenor  Laughlin  70, 

Matthew  Laughlin  30, 

Paul  Laughlin  27, 

Doctor  I^aughlin  24, 

Peggy  McCune  17, 

Samuel  McCune  16, 

John  McCune  12, 

William  M.  Flin  7, 

Isabel  IMcCune  50, 

Robert  McCune  17, 

Pebecca  Parks  13, 

William  Parks  11, 

David  Parks  9, 

Priscilla  Carson  35, 

Elisha  Carson  20, 

John  Carson  18, 

Hannah  Carson  16, 

Joseph  McGuffine  32, 

Jane  McGuffine  27, 

William  McGuffine  9, 


Mary  McGuffine  7, 

Robert  McGuffine  4, 
William  Leman 

Samuel  Leman  7, 

Martha  Leman  29, 

William  Leman  5, 

James  Johnston  23, 

Margaret  Johnston  22, 

Ro])ert  Johnston  20, 

William  Auld  30, 

Christiana  Auld  25, 

Mary  Auld  7, 

Martha  Ewing  70, 

Samuel  Findlay  35, 

James  Denny  21, 

William  McCracken  35, 
Elizabeth  McCracken 

Betsy  Peoples  16, 

Robert  Peoj^les  14, 

Martha  McCracken  9, 

Jenny  McCracken  7, 
Jonathan,  a  Negro, 

Prudence  Farhner  19, 

Robert  INIickie  45, 

Isamiah  jMickie  35, 

Andrew  Mickie  12, 

Mary  Mickie  10, 

Thomas  Mickie  7, 

John  Smith  20, 

Jonathan  Kilgore  27, 


PRESBYTERIAN      CHURCH.  31 


Ruth  Kilgore  22,  John  Caklwell  20,  ='= 

John  Caklwell  a  mem-  Elizabeth  Caldwell 

ber  of  session.  Samuel  Caldwell  14, 

Anne  Caldwell  45,  '''  Ann  Caldwell  12, 

James  Caldwell 

Families,  ^    24. 

Persons  in  full  Communion,  14^ 


WILLIAM  Lindsay's  district,    questions  and  members. 

1.  What  are  the  different  kinds  of  faith  taken  no- 
tice of  in  the  scripture  ? 

2.  A¥hat  are  the  marks  by  which  true  faith  is  dis- 
tinguished from  all  other  kinds  ? 

3.  Whither  does  saving  faith  lie  in  assent  or  con- 
sent ? 

4.  What  reason  would  you  assign  wdiy  no  actions 
are  acceptable  to  God,  but  such  as  flow  from  faith  ? 

5.  Will  it  then  follow,  that  wicked  and  unregenerace 
persons,  may  as  well  transgress  the  law  of  God,  as  en- 
deiivor  the  observance  of  it  ? 

6.  Must  we  turn  from  sin  in  order  to  come  to  Christ 
by  faith  ? 

7.  Seeing  faith  is  the  act  of  the  believing  soul,  in 
wdiat  sense  then,  is  it  said  to  be  the  gift  of  God  ? 

These,  with  the  eighth  chapter  of  the  Confession  of 
Faith,  to  be  examined  upon  at  John  Woods'  AVednes- 
day,  Dec.  30th. 


William  Hunter 

60,  =^ 

David  Shannon 

55, 

Jane  Hunter 

60,  * 

Sarah  Shannon 

47, 

John  Mclntire 

Lenard  Sliannon 

21, 

Bally  Mclntire 

18, 

Samuel  Sliannon 

19, 

Joseph  Hunter 

14, 

Patty  Cowley 

8, 

32 


THE      BIG       SPRING 


William  Warrington     9, 

William  Walker  50,  * 

Jane  Walker  50,  '"'' 

Elizabeth  Walker  25, 

James  Walker  19, 

William  Walker  18, 

Rachel  Walker  16, 

Jane  Walker  15, 

Samuel  Walker  10, 

Joseph  Walker  45,  ''' 

Kachel  Walker  40,  * 

Mary  Walker  18, 

Elizabeth  Walker  16, 

Jane  Walker  12, 
Isabel  Walker  9, 

Hannah  Walker  7, 

James  Walker  6, 

Andrew  Walker  40, 

Mary  Walker  38,  * 

James  Walker  18,  ='= 

Joseph  Walker  11, 
Jane  Walker  9, 

Betsy  Walker  7, 

Robert  Walker  56,  ='= 

Margaret  Walker  50,  ='= 

Mary  Walker  19, 

John  Walker  17, 

Elizabeth  Walker  14, 
Margaret  Walker  8, 

Robert  Walker  6, 

Gabriel  Glen  55,  * 

Jane  Glen  40,  * 


Rachel  Mills  24,  * 

Gabriel  Glen  50, 

William  Glen     .  9, 

Jenny  Glen  7, 

Jared  Graham  24, 

Jenny  Graham  20, 

John  Brown  55,  '"" 

Martha  Brown  50,  '^ 

Mary  Brown  20,  * 

John  Brown  18, 

William  Brown  15, 

Agnes  Brown  16, 

James  Brown  11, 

James  McGovern  35, 

Ann  McGovern  20, 

Mary  JNIcGovern  8, 
Francis  Donnel 
George  Lightel 
Sarah  Lightel 

William  Hunter  50,  * 

Jane  Hunter  50,  '*' 

James  Hunter  17, 

Agnes  Hunter  17, 

William  Hunter  15, 

Lcithie  Hunter  13, 

Jane  Hunter  11, 
Lathie  Wilson 

John  McTeer  23,  =^= 

Agnes  McTeer  20,  =^ 

Adam  Brattan  35, 

Martha  Brattan  9, 
John  Gilmore 


TRESBYTERIAN       CHUKCH. 

3; 

AVilliam  Wilson 

(50,  =^ 

David  Ewing 

24,  = 

Mary  Wilson 

59,  =' 

'     Elizabeth  Ewing 

22, 

Snnuiel  Wilson 

25, 

James  Graham 

60, 

Mary  AViLson 

20, 

Susannah  Graham 

45, 

Margaret  Sayers 

17,. 

Thomas  Graham 

21, 

James  Wilson 

27, 

Arthur  Graham 

19, 

Margaret  Wilson 

2!2    ■' 

'     Isaiah  Graham 

18, 

AVilfiam  Giffin 

35,  " 

James  Graham 

14, 

Elenor  Giflin 

30,  ■' 

'■    Elizabeth  Moor 

18, 

Betsy  Giffin 

11, 

Margaret  ]\Ioor 

12, 

Sally  Giffin 

5, 

Robert  Boyd 

16, 

Joseph  Pollock 

30, 

INIargaret  ^IcFarlane 

55,  = 

INIary  Pollock 

28, 

Robert  ]\IcFarlane 

Thomas  Jacob 

30, 

Ann  McFarlane 

19, 

Illlizabeth  Jacob 

27, 

^lary  McFarlane 

16, 

Elenor  Jacob 

12, 

Elizabeth  McFarlane  13, 

Mary  Jacob 

9, 

Hannah  McFarlane 

10, 

William  Patton 

25, 

William  Brisby 

40,  = 

IMary  Patton 

25, 

Sarah  Brisby 

35,  =^ 

William  Ferguson 

Nancy  Brisby 

13, 

James  ]Marslil)ank 

25, 

Betsy  Brisby 

12. 

William  Patton 

80,  '^ 

■     William  Brisby 

10 

Janet  Patton 

78,  '' 

John  Brisby 

8, 

John  Patton 

30, 

Elizabeth  Wilson 

70,  == 

William  Patton 

27, 

^latthew  Wilson 

28, 

^Margaret  Patton 

25, 

Prudence  Pen  well 

16, 

William  Deviiijiort 

23, 

Joseph  Edmonston 

25, 

Robert  Patton 

12, 

Agnes  Edmonston 

22, 

Samuel  Bayle 

30, 

Adam  Conelly 

17, 

IMartha  P>ayle 

25, 

James  McFarlane 

27, 

Horace  ])rattan 

17, 

i:iizabeth  McFarlane 

23, 

Anne  Brattan 

15, 

Ceasar  and  Dick, 

'64: 

THE      BIG 

SPRING 

James  Johnson 

30,    '' 

Joseph  Woods 

14, 

Martha  Johnson 

28,  * 

Adam  Hays 

86, 

Peggy  Johnson 

10, 

Joseph  Hays 

23, 

Jenny  Johnson 

6, 

Anne  Hays 

18, 

Samuel  Lindsy 

60,  =^- 

John  Green 

16, 

Nancy  Lindsy 

55, 

Nancy  Allen 

13, 

Samuel  Lindsy 

Patrick  Gibson 

* 

Robert  Lindsy 

Martha  Gibson 

^ 

Jenny  Lindsy 

20, 

James  Connelly 

22 

Nancy  Lindsy 

16, 

William  Connelly 

20, 

William  Lindsy 

^7, 

Elizabeth  Connelly 

18, 

Jane  Lindsy 

Charity  Connelly 

17, 

Robert  Huston 

50, 

Joseph  Means 

26,  =^= 

Martha  Huston 

50,  * 

Nancy  Means 

24,  ='•• 

Nancy  Huston 

20, 

John  McFarlane 

60, 

Peggy  Huston 

18, 

Elizabeth  McFarlane 

50, 

John  Espy 

20,  =^= 

Sarah  McFarlane 

20, 

William  Clark 

24,  === 

James  McFarlane 

16, 

John  Love 

27, 

Robert  McFarlane 

14, 

Margaret  Love 

25, 

Andrew  McFarlane 

14, 

James  Love 

25, 

Thomas  Buclianan 

30, 

Thomas  Love 

22, 

Agnes  Buchanan 

28, 

William  Clark 

67,  ■■'• 

Robert  Buchanan 

8, 

Agnes  Clark 

•s- 

William  Buchannan 

6, 

John  Clark 

13, 

Jenny  McClellan 

14, 

JoIki  Woods 

80,  === 

William  jNIcFarlane 

56, 

Jane  Woods 

80,  =^= 

Eliza] )eth  McFarlane 

50, 

Richard  Woods 

27, 

David  Murray 

22, 

Isabel  Woods 

35, 

Anne  McClellan 

16, 

.Robert  Woods 

25, 

James  Hall 

9, 

Polly  Woods 

18, 

Families, 

44 

:, 

The    big    spring,     northeast     of     the 

CHURCH,     at     the     old     LAUGHLIN     MILL 


PKESBYTERIAN       CHURCH. 


Wt 


JOHN  BELL  S  DISTRICT. 


QUESTIONS  AND  MEMBERS. 


1.  What  do  you  iiiulerstiUKl  by  creation?  Is  it  a 
work  ])eciiliar  to  God  ? 

2.  How  will  you  prove  from  scripture  and  reason, 
in  opposition  to  Aristotle  and  others,  that  the  world  is 
not  eternal  ? 

3.  How  will  you  prove  both  from  scripture  and 
reason,  that  the  world  neither  came  by  chance,  nor  yet 
made  itself? 

4.  How  will  you  defend  the  Mosaic  account,  which 
asserts,  that  the  world  has  not  existed  6000  years,  against 
ancient  history,  which  tells  us  of  Egyptian  records  for 
more  than  thirteen  thousand  years,  and  the  Bal)ylo- 
nians,  speak  of  things  done  four  hundred  and  seventy 
thousand  years  before,  and  the  Chinese  tell  of  things, 
still  longer  done. 

The  third  chapter  of  the  Confession  of  Faith  also  to 
be  examined  upon. 
Elleanor  Gillespie 
Geo.  Gillespie  (absent)25, 
James  Gorly 
Sal,  a  negro, 
James  Gillespie 
Jane  Gillespie 
William  (lillesj)ie 
Mat.  ]\I.  Gillespie 
John  Tall)art 
Rebecca  Armstrong 
James  Johnston 
James  Johnston 
Alexander  Johnston 


67, 

Mary  Johnston 

14, 

)25, 

John  Johnston, 

10, 

7, 

Jane  Johnston 

8, 

James  Johnston 

5, 

38, 

Robert  Dunbar 

30, 

Samuel  Wilson 

26, 

7, 

Samuel  Hawthorn 

32, 

5, 

Margaret  Hawthorn 

28, 

10, 

James  Hawthorn 

9, 

50  ='= 

George  Kelsy 

60, 

78,  ^' 

Elizabeth  Kelsy 

28, 

38,  =^= 

Jane  Kelsy 

20, 

16, 

George  Kelsy 

22, 

THE      BIG      SPRING 


Elizabeth  Bell 

52,  * 

Jennet  McClure 

25, 

Katharine  Brown 

50,  * 

Hannah  Anderson 

23, 

Kobert  Bell 

24,  * 

Margaret  ]\IcClure 

19, 

Jane  Bell 

22, 

Andrew  McClure 

21, 

William  Bell 

24, 

James  Laird 

34,  * 

Joseph  Bell 

17, 

Jane  Laird 

94     * 

George  Bell 

15, 

Joseph  Halbert 

20, 

John  Bell 

13, 

John  O'Neil 

40,  * 

Thomas  Bell 

12, 

Thomas  Espey 

50,  * 

Katharine  Bell 

10, 

Ann  Espey 

42,  ■■^■ 

Alexander  Officer 

60,  =^= 

JNIargaret  Espey 

20,  =^= 

Mary  Officer 

67,  ■■' 

William  Espey 

18,  --^^ 

James  Officer 

36,  ^= 

Rachel  Espey 

16, 

Mary  Qfficer 

30,  =•= 

Ann  Espey 

13, 

Jane  Gordon 

19, 

Robert  Espey 

11, 

Katharine  Gray 

20, 

Elizabeth  Espey 

9, 

Samnel  Miller 

17, 

James  Espey 

7, 

William  Douglas 

47,  ^• 

Robert  McClure 

55,  * 

Mary  Douglas 

41,  ='= 

Margaret  McClure 

20, 

Margaret  Douglas 

16, 

Nancy  McClure 

16, 

Agnes  Douglas 

14, 

Robert  McClure 

14, 

John  Douglas 

12, 

Mary  McClure 

12, 

Mary  Douglas 

10, 

Betsy  McClure 

7, 

William  Douglas 

7, 

Alexander  Leckey 

26,  =^ 

Margaret  McClure 

55, 

Elizabeth  Leckey 

29,  =^= 

Families, 

16. 

In  full  communion, 

27. 

Total  number  of  persons. 


79. 


ROBERT  PATTERSON  S  DISTRICT. 


This  was  called    the    Yellow    Breeches   district,    and 


PRESBYTERIAN       CHURCH.  89 


extended  south  from  the  turnpike,  to  the  Yellow 
Breeches  Creek,  east,  to  the  Cumberland  Furnace,  on 
the  Yellow  Breeches,  and  west  to  Jacksonville. 


QUESTIONS  AND  MEMBERS. 

1.  What  description  would    you    give   of   Heaven? 

2.  Upon  what  is  the  believers'  title  to  Heaven 
founded  ? 

3.  Has  (xod  |)romiscd  Heaven  to  believers  abso- 
lutely, or  does  he  require  conditions  on  their  part  ? 

4.  Can  believers  under  the  new  covenant  dispensa- 
tion, who  have  once  a  right  to  Heaven,  by  their  niis- 
conduct,  lose  it  and  forfeit  their  right  ? 

5.  Is  the  doctrine  of  the  saints  perseverance  founded 
on  scripture  ?  If  so,  how  will  you  prove  it,  and  defend 
the  doctrine  arainst  those  who  denv  it  ? 

6.  How  will  you  make  it  appear  from  scripture  and 
experience,  that  there  is  no  such  thing  as  sinless  perfec- 
tion in  this  life  ? 

7.  Seeing  Heaven  is  an  holy  place,  and  nothing 
unclean  can  enter  into  it  at  any  time,  then  are  believers 
made  completely  holy  and  fitted  for  Heaven? 

These,  with  the  sixth  chapter  of  the  Confession  of 
Faith  to  be  examined  upon. 


Thomas  Glen 

(JO,  '■■ 

Deborah  Patterson 

18, 

Elizal)eth  Glen 

54,  =^= 

Daniel  Kelly 

30, 

Thomas  Glen 

21, 

Elizabeth  Kelly 

3G, 

Alexander  Glen 

19, 

Christian  Kelly 

50, 

John  (lien 

17, 

William  Kelly 

1(>, 

Barah  Patterson 

(30,  * 

Ann  Kelly 

14, 

Obediah  Patterson 

25, 

Richard  Kelly 

12, 

Zacheus  Patterson 

20, 

James  Houston 

70, 

40                                       THE      BIG 

SPRING 

John  Huston 

24, 

Mary  Woods, 

20, 

Andrew  Huston 

22, 

Mat,  a  negro. 

Sarah  Huston 

26,  ='= 

William  Woods 

25,  * 

Jane  Huston 

18, 

Jane  Woods 

22,  * 

Thomas  Norton 

40, 

Nathan  Woods 

8, 

Sarah  Norton 

36, 

Samuel  Goodling 

15, 

Betsy  Norton 

9, 

John  Mitchel 

10, 

Thomas  Norton 

7, 

Janet  Ramsey 

60,  '■' 

Elizabeth  McCulloch  56,  * 

Nathan  Ramsey 

25,  =^= 

James  McCulloch 

20, 

Mary  Ramsey 

13,  * 

Robert  McCulloch 

12, 

Agnes  Ramsey 

17, 

Rosian  Adair 

8, 

Elizabeth  Ramsey 

16, 

William  Wagstas 

30, 

Margaret  Ramsey 

14, 

Charity  Wagstas 

19, 

Alexander  McBride 

26, 

Agnes  Irwin 

70,  * 

Tabitha  McBride 

24, 

Thomas  Grier 

35,  === 

Mary  Patterson 

60,  =^ 

Jane  Grier 

25,  * 

Esther  Patterson 

20, 

Ann  Browster 

60,  === 

Ann  Patterson 

18, 

William  .Browster 

25, 

Sarah  Patterson 

16, 

Alexander  Browster 

22, 

Elizabeth  Patterson 

14, 

Mary  Carithers 

28,  === 

Thomas  Patterson 

12, 

Charles  McConel 

56,  ''■ 

Robert  Johnston 

30, 

Isabel  McConel 

46,  =^= 

Ann  Johnston 

35, 

Eleanor  McConel 

17, 

Margaret  Harper 

28, 

Martha  McConel 

1(3, 

John  Lemon 

45,  =^= 

Mary  McConel 

13, 

Elizabeth  Lemon 

35,  ='= 

Jenny  McConel 

10, 

Jane  Lemon 

14, 

John  McConel 

7, 

Nancy  Lemon 

12, 

William  Woods 

60,  =•' 

Polly  Lemon 

10, 

Samuel  Woods 

26, 

Robert  Fowler 

30, 

Jenny  Woods 

24, 

Elizabeth  Fowler 

19, 

John  Woods 

22 

John  Fowler 

23, 

PRESBYTERIAN       CHURCH. 


41 


William  Ewing 

40,  ■■' 

Jane  Ewing 

44,  ''■■ 

elane  Ewiiii;- 

35,  ''■ 

Thomas  Ewing 

16, 

Nancy  Ewing 

14, 

Rebecea  Ewing 

14, 

Robert  Ewing 

9, 

Anna  Ewing 

11, 

William  E wing- 

7, 

James  Ewing 

7, 

Alexander  Ewing 

5, 

Thomas  Adams 

30,  === 

Ka tlia ri ne  Cra  wford 

12, 

Agnes  Adams 

28,  =^= 

Thomas  Ewing 

45,  ■' 

Jenny  Adams 

14, 

Mariany  Ewing 

40,  ^ 

Samuel  Adams 

10, 

John  Ewing 

15, 

Richard  Adams 

7, 

Rebecca  Pawing 

(>, 

David  McCurdy 

m,  ='= 

Alexander  Clark 

12, 

]\Irs.  McCurdy 

57,  =^= 

Elenor  Reigli 

60,  ='= 

James  McCurdy, 

25, 

Samuel  Reigh 

Mary  Morris 

Mary  Reigh 

16, 

David  McCurdy 

20, 

Joseph  Gourd 

25, 

Janet  McCurdy 

19, 

JMargaret  Gourd 

24, 

Nancy  Lowry 

18, 

Nancy  Homes 

Adam  Clelland 

35,  * 

John  ISIcCurdy 

20, 

Jane  Clelland 

45,  '' 

Elizabeth  JNlcCurdy 

24, 

John  Calvert 

20, 

Josepli  Van  Horn 

30,  * 

Eleo  Galbraith 

9, 

Annie  Van  Horn 

25, 

William  Appleby 

35,  * 

John  Ewdng 

50,  ='= 

Nancy  Appleby 

28,  =•= 

Sarah  Ewing 

48,  ==' 

Eliza  Appleby 

14, 

Jane  Ewing 

2'^ 

J.  Appleby 

12, 

William  Ewing 

20, 

Jane  Appleby 

10, 

Martha  Ewing 

18, 

John  Appleby 

9, 

Matthew  Ewing 

16, 

James  Deeper 

45,  =^= 

Mary  Ewing 

12, 

Mary  Deeper 

40,  === 

James  Ewing 

10, 

Allen  Deeper 

16, 

Rebecca  Ewing 

8, 

Martha  Deeper 

13, 

James  Ewing 

52,  =^= 

James  Deeper 

11, 

4Z                                       THE 

BIG 

SPRING 

Sally  Leeper 

9, 

William 

Hunter 

23, 

Jack,  a  mulatto. 

Elizabetl 

I  Hunter 

21, 

Families, 

• 

33, 

Persons  in  full  communion, 

46  . 

Total  number  of 

persons, 

148. 

KOBERT    LUSK  S    DISTRICT. 

Robert  Lusk,  was  one  of  five  brothers,  who  emigrated 
from  Ireland  at  an  early  date,  and  settled  in  this  vicin- 
ity. He  bought  a  farm  in  Mifflin  township,  known 
as  the  "Fountain  of  Health  Farm,"  which  had  been 
w^arranted  to  Andrew  McElwain,  about  1730.  Robert 
Lusk  married  Martha  McClure  of  Adams  County. 


QUESTIONS  AND  ANSWERS. 

1.  Upon  what  account  was  the  feast  of  pentecost 
observed,  and  what  remarkable  things  happened  at  that 
time  ? 

2.  What  were  the  different  laws  God  gave  to  His 
people,  and  what  were  their  various  uses  ? 

3.  Why  are  the  ten  commandments  called  die  moral 
law  ? 

4.  With  what  different  forms  hatli  God  clothed  the 
moral  law  ? 

o.     What  do  you  understand  l)y  the  law    of  nature? 

6.  What  do  you  understand  by  the  law  as  a  cov- 
enant of  works  ? 

7.  What  do  you  understand  by  the  law  as  a  rule  of 
life  ? 

These,  Avith  the  seventh  chapter  of  the  Confession    of 
Faith,  to  be  examined  upon. 
Mary  Sterret  80,  *     David  Sterret  50,  '^ 


PRESBYTERIAN       CHURCH. 


43 


Rachel  Sterret 
Rol)ert  Sterret 
Bryee  I.  Sterret 
David  Sterret 
Elizabeth  Sterret 
John  Sterret 
William  Sterret 
Elizabeth  MeMiillaii 
Sandoii,  a  negro. 
Ned,  a  negro. 
Andrew  Patterson 
Mdvy  Patterson 
Jane  Patterson 
Nathan  Patterson 
Samuel  Patterson 
James  Patterson 
Sarali  Patterson 
William  Stephenson 
Jane  Stephenson 
Elizabeth  Stephenson 
James  Stevenson 
James  JNIcElwain 
Mary  INIeElwain 
John  MeElwain 
Kutli  MeElwain 
Andrew  MeElwain 
Elizabeth  MeElwain 
Elizabeth  Mason 
Mary  MeElwain 
Ilol)ert  ^leElwain 
Jane  Melillwain 
Mary  MeElwain 


48,  =^= 

Robert  IMeElwain 

22 

24, 

Elizabeth  MeElwain 

2o! 

22, 

John  Paten 

50,  * 

20, 

Francis  Paten 

:i: 

18, 

William  Paten 

20,  =^= 

16, 

James  Paten 

18, 

10, 

John  Paten 

IH, 

8, 

Josepli  Paten 

14, 

Mary  Paten 

12, 

Thomas  Paten 

9, 

35,  '' 

Robert  Paten 

7, 

:i: 

Fanny  Paten 

7, 

15, 

Joseph  Shannon 

25, 

13, 

Mary  Shannon 

26, 

11, 

John  MOrroAV 

30,  - 

^>, 

Hannah  Morrow 

')()      :;: 

-^•'> 

8, 

JNlary  Morro\v 

8, 

40,  === 

David  Ramsey 

110,  === 

33,  === 

Sarali  Ramsey 

13, 

12, 

Anne  Ramsey 

n, 

10, 

INIargaret  Ramsey 

i>, 

37,  =^= 

J\Iaiy  Ramsey 

7, 

12, 

David  Ramsey 

5, 

10, 

Robert  Lusk 

27,  '' 

7, 

INIartlia  Lusk 

21,  =^= 

33,  =^= 

Jane  Lusk 

4, 

30,  =^= 

Thomas  Martin 

17, 

Mary  Martin 

25, 

8, 

Rosa  una  Martin 

18, 

7, 

John  INIartin 

16, 

5, 

Jane  Martin 

14, 

70, 

James  Hamilton 

:i: 

44 

THE      BIG 

SPRING 

George  Hamilton 

■•H 

Betsy  Johnson 

Eutli  Hamilton 

Robert  Bell 

48,  * 

Andrew  Bell 

40, 

Jane  Bell 

49,  * 

Betsy  Bell 

13, 

Walter  Bell 

16, 

Samuel  Bell 

10, 

William  Bell 

15, 

Matty  Bell 

7, 

David  Bell 

13, 

John  Bell 

17, 

Peggy  Bell 

11, 

John  MeClure 

17, 

Families, 

16. 

In  full  communion, 

22. 

Total  number  of  persons, 

81. 

SAMUEL    M  COKMICK's    DISTRICT. 

Samuel  M'Cormick,  was  born  1726,  and  died  Sept. 
4th,  1803.  He  married  Eliza  Bowman,  who  was  born 
1727,  and  died  Oct.  7th,  1811,  He  settled  in  Mifflin 
Township,  prior  to  1781.  He  fii-st  purchased  the  farm, 
now  known  as  the  Asper  farm.  This  he  sold,  and 
bought  from  William  McFarlane,  the  farm  below  Doub- 
ling Gap,  on  which  he  died,  now  owned  by  W.  H. 
McCrea.  That  he  was  greatly  concerned  for  his  own, 
and  the  spiritual  welfare  of  the  people  over  which  he 
had  charge,  is  evinced  by  his  many  letters  to  his  pastor, 
on  these  subjects. 


LIST    OF 

MEMBERS. 

Isabella  Hall 

67  === 

John  Montroe 

62, 

Ruth  Cook 

14, 

Mary  Ann  Montroe 

31, 

John  Reed 

50,  * 

]\Iargaret  Montroe 

14, 

Sarah  Reed 

34,  === 

William  Montroe 

9, 

Elizal)eth  Long 

10, 

Reul)en  Montroe 

6, 

Sanuiel  Lowry 

9, 

Sarah  Denison 

84, 

PRESBYTERIAN      CHURCH. 


45 


Martha  French 
Tliomas  JMatliers 
Mary  MatluT.s 
Margaret  Mathers 
William  Mathers 
Jane  Mather.s 
]\Iary  Fen  ton 
Samuel  Fenton 
Ann  P'enton 
James  Fenton 
Robert  Fenton 
Samuel  Fenton 
John  Fenton 
Andrew  Thompson 
IMary  Thompson 
Mary  Ann  Thompson 
Hugh  Thorn  1)80 n 
Sanuiel  Thompson 
Hannah  Tlioiupson 
Andrew  Thompson 
James  W.  Thompson 
James  Walker 
Jane  Walker 
George  Tayloi* 
Elenor  Taylor 
George  Taylor 
Naney  Taylor 
James  Patterson 
Mary  Patterson 
Naney  Pattei'son 
Thomas  Patterson 
Robert  Patterson 


45,  =^= 

Isaac  Durbara 

50,  '-' 

54,  ■■'• 

Jane  Durbara 

20,  ='= 

50,  '' 

Reuben  Dui'bara 

20, 

20, 

John  Durbara 

18, 

18, 

Alexander    McClin- 

10, 

toek 

40,  =^= 

80,  === 

Sarah  MeClintock 

39,  === 

40, 

David  Dougherty 

19,  * 

80, 

John  Stars 

19,  * 

13, 

Elizabeth  Palm 

11,  ■■■^■■ 

11, 

James  Bran  nan 

40, 

1), 

Mary  Bran  nan 

19, 

7, 

John  Brannan 

16, 

40,  * 

Thomas  Brannan 

12, 

40,  ='= 

William  Brannan 

9, 

18, 

John  JVIcFarlane 

50,  '^ 

10, 

Mary  McFarlane 

50,  ='= 

14, 

James  McFarlane 

26, 

12, 

Margaret  McFarlane 

24, 

10, 

Elizabeth  McFarlane 

il5. 

8, 

Jolm  McFarlane 

13, 

2(3,  =^= 

Alexander  McFarlane  11 , 

25,  =^= 

Ann  McFarlane 

10, 

60, 

William  McFarlane 

8, 

55, 

John  Shannon 

33, 

24, 

Agnes  Sliannon 

30, 

20, 

Mary  Sliannon 

12, 

40,  * 

Ann  Shannon 

11, 

88,  === 

Andrew  Shannon 

9, 

15, 

Sarah  Sliannon 

7, 

12, 

John  AYallace 

32, 

10, 

Elizabeth  Wallace 

30, 

46                                       THE       BIG 

SPRING 

William  Mophet 

36,  * 

Nelly  Gallespie 

10, 

Kebecca  Mophet 

38,  '' 

Grace,  a  negro. 

Jane  Mophet 

12, 

Nathaniel  Gallespie 

33, 

Phoebe  Mophet 

10, 

Martha  Gallespie 

32, 

Thomas  Barnes 

70, 

Millie  Gallespie 

10, 

Grizel  Barnes 

55,  * 

Mary  Gallespie 

8, 

Margaret  Barnes 

27, 

Ann  Galle'spie 

(3, 

David  Barnes 

20, 

Thomas  Pennel 

16, 

Robert  Barnes 

17, 

Sarah  Majoirs 

45, 

Elizabeth  McCormick, 

Elizabeth  Majoirs 

21, 

wife  of  the  elder 

60,  -'' 

Isaac  Majoirs 

11, 

Joseph  McCormick 

23, 

Nancy  Majoirs 

9, 

Thomas  McCormick 

21, 

Hugli  Ramsey 

30, 

Ann  McCormick 

18,  ■-•'■■ 

Margaret  Ramsey 

25,  '■■ 

Jane  McCormick 

16, 

John  Mitchel 

25,  ■■■'■■ 

John  Purdie 

40,  === 

Margaret  Mitchel 

Margaret  Purdie 

40,  '' 

Samuel  Mitel lel 

35,  ^' 

Thomas  Purdie 

18, 

Mary  ]\Iitchel 

34,  ^ 

James  Purdie 

14, 

John  Mitchel 

14, 

Rachel  Purdie 

12, 

Ezekiel  Mitchel 

11, 

Mary  Purdie 

10, 

James  Mitchel 

7, 

John  Purdie 

8, 

Alexander  Elliott 

35,  ''■ 

Robert  Gallespie 

45, 

Agnes  Elliott 

35,  -■' 

Elizabeth  Gallespie 

40, 

Jan  net  Elliott 

13, 

William  Gallespie 

19, 

Mary  Elliott 

10, 

Samuel  Gallespie 

14, 

Catliarine  Elliott 

8, 

Nancy  Gallespie 

12, 

In  full  communion, 

31 

5. 

Total  number  of  persons,                               12; 

3. 

DAVID  EALSTON  S  DISTRICT. 

David  Ralston,  was  a  son  of  Andrew    Ralston,    who 


PRESBYTERIAN       CHURCH.  47 


settled,  1728,  on  the  farm  now  owned  l)y  Mrs.  Parker, 
opposite  the  Newville  station.  David  was  one  of  five 
cliikh-en,  and  came  into  possession  of  his  father's  farm, 
where  he  H\'ed  until  1800,  when  he  moved  to  West- 
moreland County,  and  died  near  Greensburg,  1810. 
He  was  twice  married,  first  to  a  Miss  Scott,  second  to 
Miss  Elizabeth  McCHntock.  Both  wives  died  at  Big 
Spring.  By  his  first  wife,  David  Kalston  had  issue: 
Elizabeth  married  Thomas  Jacob;  Jane  married,  first, 
a  Mr.  McDonald,  and  secondly,  a  Mr.  Taylor;  Elenor 
married  a  ]\Ir.  Miller;  James  married  Ruth  Carson;  An- 
drew married  Miss  Kirkpatrick.  By  his  second  wife 
David  Ralston  had  issue:  Agnes  married  a  Mr.  Alls- 
worth;  Margaret  married  a  Mr.  Moorhead;  Ann  mar- 
ried Mr.  Banks;  Mary  unmarried;  Sarah  unmarried; 
David  married  Lacv  McAllister. 


LIST    OF 

MEMBERS. 

John  Brown 

40, 

John  Turner 

60, 

Elizabeth  Brown 

38, 

Mary  Turner 

56, 

Adam  Brown 

18, 

Joseph  Turner 

20, 

Mary  Brown 

16, 

Sally  Turner 

6, 

Margaret  Brown 

14, 

Thomas  Moore 

60, 

Elizabeth  Brown 

12, 

Saml.  Moore 

Hannah  Brown 

10, 

John  Mitchel 

Josej^h  Brown 

8, 

I^acy  Mitchel 

Ann  Brown 

<>, 

Jennet  Mathers 

50, 

William  Smith 

32,  ■■■' 

'     Samuel  Mathers 

Sarah  Smith 

30,  ' 

'     Isabella  Mathers 

33, 

Robert  Smith 

John  Mathers 

12, 

John  Smith 

Tliomas  Mathers 

10, 

Elizabeth  Smith 

Joseph  Mathers 

25, 

Mary  Smith 

Eleanor  Mathers 

23, 

48 


THE      BIG      SPRINC4 


Robert  Hutchison 
Mary  Hutchison 
Nancy  Hutchison 
Robert  Hutchison 
Mary  Hutchison 
Waher,  a  negro. 
John  Adams 
Jenny  Adams 
Elizabeth  Ralston, 
wife  of  the  elder 
Nancy  Ralston 
Margaret  Ralston 
Amy  Ralston 
Mary  Ralston 
Sally  Ralston 
David  Ralston 
John  Reed 
Eleanor  Reed 
Sally  Reed 
Grant,  a  negro. 
John  Hodge 
Agnes  Hodge 
William  Laughlin 
Mary  Laughlin 
James  Lauglilin 
John  Laughlin 
William  Laughlin 
Rachel,  a  negro. 
Catherine  Atchison 
Atchison  Laughlin 
Families, 
Persons  in  full 


50,  * 

Rosannah  Hutchison,  18, 

48,  ''■■ 

Martha  Hutchison 

16, 

14, 

Mary  Laughlin 

♦ 

12, 

Margaret  McKein 

85,  * 

10, 

William  McKein 

19, 

Mary  McKein 

17, 

27, 

Elizabeth  McKein 

14, 

20, 

Mary  Patton 

30,  '' 

Elizabeth  McEntin 

e    28,  '-■ 

45,  '' 

James  Mitchel 

50,  * 

14, 

Mary  Mitchel 

48,  * 

12, 

Eve  Mitcliel 

10, 

Elizabeth  Mitchel 

8, 

Rebecca  Mitchel 

13, 

V, 

James  Mitchel 

9, 

5, 

Mary  INlitchel 

7, 

20, 

William  Duncan 

26, 

25, 

Margaret  Duncan 

23, 

7, 

Charity  Davis 
James  Irw'in 

12, 

81,  =^ 

'■     Isa])el  Irwin 

60,  ' 

'•     John  Irwin 

61), 

Mary  Irwin 

48, 

Mary  Irwin 

17, 

Eleanor  Irwin 

15, 

Caleb  Ardiler 

30, 

1), 

Jane  Ardiler 

28, 

Francis  Morris 

9, 

Garman  Jacobs 

29, 

•■i- 

Katherine  Jacobs 

24, 

14. 

communion, 

19. 

PRESBYTERIAN      CHURCH. 


49 


Persons  not  in  communion, 
Total  nunil)er  of  jiersons, 


70. 
89". 


HUGH  LAUGHLIN  S  DISTRICT. 


Jane  Laughlin  84,  * 

Buhard  Brines  12, 

David,  a  negro.  25, 

Alexander  Laughlin  52,  ''' 

Charity  Laughlin  o7,  ''' 

Susana  Laughlin  15, 

Ann  Laughlin  10, 

John  Laughlin  8, 
Eve,  a  negro. 
Jaek,       " 
Hall,       " 

Robert  jMcCormiek  30, 

Esther  McCorniick  o8, 

Wm.  Nisbit,  (absent)  28, 

Esther  Nisbit  19, 
JamesStewart  (absent)28, 
Thomas  Martin 

Eleanor  Stewart  22, 
Thomas  Montgomery  20, 

Rebecca  McMullin  13, 

John  Allen  20, 

Isal)ella  Allen  20, 

Hugh  Allen  57,  ='= 

Jennet  Allen  50, 

Elizabeth  Allen  18, 

Alexander  Allen  19, 

Jenny  Allen  14, 

David  Allen  13, 


David  Williamson  35, 

Samuel  Williamson  13, 

Hugh  McElhenny  30, 
Margaret  McElhenny  33, 

Hugh  Kirkpatrick  13, 

Richard  Nicholdson  73, 

Mary  Nicholdson  77, 

James  Nicholdson  33, 

Mary  Nicholdson  33, 

Isaac  Shannon  18, 

James  Steen  13, 
Sal,  a  negro. 
Pomp,    " 

Robert  Shannon  64, 

Jane  Shannon  63, 

Sarah  Shannon  30, 

John  Shannon  33, 

Mary  Shannon  20, 

Mary  McGuffin  5, 

Robert  Morrison  56, 

Elizabeth  Morrison  58, 

Robert  INIorrison  20, 

Mary  Morrison  16, 

William  Morrison  18, 

Samuel  McElhenny  40, 

Mary  McElheiuiy  38, 

Oeorge  Sully  16, 

Rebecca  McElhenny  66, 


50 


THE       BIG       SPKTNG 


Martha  McCasland  47, 
William  Montgomery  14, 
Sarah  McGlanghliii 

and  family, 
Robert  Barr  and  fam- 

John  Gorrel  47, 

Isabella  Gorrel  50, 
Isabel  Moor  9, 

Joseph  Shannon  and  family 

John  McGuffine  30, 

William  Hanna  60,  * 

Samuel  Morrow  60,  ''' 

Jane  Morrow  50,  '•' 

William  McGuffine  20,  ''' 

John  Bell  45,  =^= 

Martha  Bell  38,  •*= 

Walter  McClure  16, 
Jenny  Bell  8, 

William  Bryson  60,  * 

Margaret  Bryson  53,  '"" 

Rebecca  Bryson  26,  * 
Families, 

JOHN 

James  Laughlin  QS, 

Mary  Laughlin  30, 

Robert  Laughlin  24, 

Hugh  Laughlin  18, 

William  Laughlin  20, 

Elizabeth  Laughlin  15, 
Robert  M.  Gopock        8, 


Samuel  Bryson 
Hugli  Bryson 
Ellenor  DonovA^ay 
Allen  Means 
Alexander  Wier 
William  Carnahan 
Martha  Carnahan 
Jose])li  Carnahan 
Robert  Carnahan 
Judith  Carnahan 
Rob't  Mathers  and  f; 
John  Wright 
Jennet  Wright 
Margaret  Wright 
William  Thompson 
Ellenor  Thompson 
Aaron  Hains 
Tom,  a  negro. 
Hannah     " 
Matthew  Thompson 
Ann  Thomj^son 
Mary  Allison 

25. 


77     -l' 


19, 

15, 
10, 

24, 
24, 

77, 

m, 

25, 

24, 

mily, 

30, 

30, 

18, 

81, 

71, 

12, 


30, 

23, 

9, 


ROBINSON  S    DISTKICT, 


Esther  Robinson 
Mary  Robinson 
Esther  Robinson 
John  Robinson 
William  Thompson 
Jane  Thompson 
Sally  Chapman 


50, 
10, 
7, 
5, 
25, 
24, 


PKESBYTERIAN      CHURCH. 


51 


Susanna  Tliouipson  5i), 
Alexander  Thompson  28, 
Leacy  Tlionipson  24, 
Peo-gy  Tlionipson  22, 
20, 
10, 
50, 
86, 
17, 
14, 
20, 
8, 
82, 

28, 
23, 
21, 
10, 
60, 
25, 
28, 
21, 
17, 


Hugh  Thoni])son 
Sally  Grier 
Adam  Carnahan 
Agnes  Carnalian 
James  Carnahan 
Agnes  Carnalian 
Adam  Carnahan 
Elizid)et]i  Carnahan 
Joseph  Wilson 
]\Iary  Wilson 
Joseph  Wilson 
William  Wilson 
Ann  Wilson 
Ann  Kennedy 
Jane  Jack 
James  Jack 
Cynthia  Jack 
Andrew  Jack 
Hannah  Jack 
John  Wilt  and  family 
Agnes  McGoffine 
James  McCofTine 
John  McGoffine 
S.  Work 
Sal,  a  Negro. 
Williaiu  work 
Families,        1(5. 


60, 
85, 
88, 


25, 


Elizabeth  Work 
Alexander  Work 
James  Work 
Susanna  Work 
S.  Work 
John  Work 
Maiy  Work 
James  Carson 
Mary  Carson 
Janet  Carson 
Solomon  Lightcap 
Mary  Lightcap 
Samuel  Lightcap 
Solomon  Lightcap 
Levi  Lightcap 
Nancy  Lightcap 
Elizabeth  Lightcap 
William  Lightcap 
Godfrey  Lightcap 
Thomas  Lightcap 
John  Morain 
Sandi  Morain 
John  Moiain 
John  Laughlin 
]\Iargaret  Laughlin 
James  Carithers 
Jeremiah  McKibben 
]\Iary  McKibben 
Fan,  a  Negro. 


28, 

20, 
18, 
16, 
14, 
27, 
28, 
89, 
81, 

9, 
60, 
55, 
25, 
24, 
22, 
21, 
20, 
18, 
16, 
14, 
65,  * 
76,  * 
30, 
80, 
28,  * 

8, 
81, 
29, 


Total  number  of  persons 


Persons  in  full  communion,  11. 

72. 


52 


THE       BIG      SPRING 


JOHN  MCKEEHAN  S  DISTRICT, 

John  McKeehan,  was  one  of  four  brothers,  Avho  set- 
tled in  West  Pennsboro  townshij),  at  an  early  date. 
His  brothers  were,  Benjamin,  James  and  Alexander. 
He  died  March  7,  1813,  aged  75  years.  His  wife 
Elizabeth,  died  June  20,  1822,  aged  77  years. 

LIST  OF  MEMBERS. 


James  Turner 

21), 

Rebecca  Rijipet 

10, 

Mary  Turner 

29, 

Mary  Rippet 

8, 

James  Walker(absent)  30, 

Matthew  Davidson 

Johnson 

43,  === 

and  famil}^ 

Thomas  Johnson 

57,  =^= 

George  McKeelian 

40, 

Mary  Johnson 

21  '' 

Mary  jNIcKeehan 

30, 

Jean  Johnson 

17,  ■■'■■ 

Mary  McKeehan 

6, 

Margaret  Johnson 

13, 

Jenny  McKeehan 

7, 

Johnson 

8, 

Randle  Blair 

40, 

William  Miller 

i21, 

Charity  Blair 

38, 

John  Miller 

20, 

John  ]]lair^ 

16, 

James  Houston 

OO, 

Daniel  Blair 

13, 

Isabel  Houston 

25, 

Jenny  Blair 

9, 

Robert  Houston 

6, 

Elizabeth  McKeehan  45, 

John  Davidson 

42  - 

George  McKeehan 

18, 

Leacy  Davidson 

38,  "'' 

James  McKeelian 

16, 

John  Davidson 

16, 

John  McKeelian 

14, 

James  Davidson 

14, 

Samuel  McKeehan 

11, 

Ann  Davidson 

9, 

Alexander  McKeelian  9, 

Bill,  a  negro. 

Mary  Ann  McKeehf 

m, 

David  Glen 

36,  '■■ 

James  Atchison 

68, 

Mary  Glen 

26,  === 

Elizabeth  Atchison 

m, 

AVilliam  Ha  una 

11. 

Jacob  Atchison 

^3, 

John'  Rippet 

40, 

Benjamin  Atchison 

20, 

Elizabeth  Rippet 

34, 

Deborah  Boyd 

45, 

PRESBYTERIAN      CHURCH.  55 


John  Boyd 

19, 

Peggy  McKeehan 

14. 

George  Boyd 

15, 

John  McKeehan 

13, 

Jaiiies  Boyd 

13, 

Betsy  McKeehan 

10, 

Eleanor  Boyd 

10, 

Margaret  Eager, 

Benjamin  McKeehan 

30, 

Robert  Beard, 

IMargaret  McKeehan 

27, 

Elizabeth  Beard 

35, 

Elizabeth  McKeehan 

25, 

Margaret  Beard 

17, 

James  McKeehan 

35,  * 

James  Beard 

12, 

Mary  McKeehan 

30,  * 

Anne  Beard 

10, 

Nancy  McKeehan 

16, 

Families, 

17 

. 

In  full  communion. 

14 

, 

Total  number  of 

"  persons. 

68 

1, 

MARRIAGES 

BY  REV.  SAMUEL  WILSON. 

Appleby,  William,  and  Agnes  McCurdy,  Feb.  7,  1787. 
Atchison,  Joseph,  and  Elizabeth  Moor,  Mar.  26,  1789. 
Alexander,   James,    and    Margaret     Harper,     Oct.    25, 

1792. 
Armstrong,  James,  and  Nancy  Lemond,  Apr.    8,    1794. 

Armstrong,  James,  and  Liggat,    Nov.    4,  1794. 

Armstrong,   Robert,  and  Mary    McDowell,    Apr.     30, 

1795. 
Anderson,  James,  and    Eleanor   Crow,  June   27,   1797. 
Barr,  Robert,   and  Elizabeth    Allen,    May     27,     1788. 
Bell,  Roljert,  and  Rachel  Espey,  May  29,  1788. 
Browster,  William,    and   Margaret   Robison,     Mar.     1, 

1790. 

Blair, and Hunter,  Oct.  23,  1792. 

Blain,  Robert,  and  Mary  Craig,  Feb.  17,  1795. 

Bell,  Joseph,  and  Elizabeth   Sharp,    Apr.    30,    1795. 


56  THE       BIG      SPRING 


Barr,  John,  and  Sarah  Gailly,  (?)  May  5,  1795. 
Brown,  Alexander,    and  Mary  Jacob,    Dec.    8,     1795. 
Brown,  William,  and  Rachel   Walker,    July  28,   1796. 
Bell,  William,  and   Elizabeth    Stephenson,    Sept.     15, 

1796. 
Boyd,  George,    and   Elizabeth    Brown,   Mar.    2,    1797- 
Brandon,  Thomas,    and    Mary   Fertig,    Jan.    9,    1798. 
Clark,  Henry,  and  Mary  Lowry,  Oct.  25,  1788. 

Crowel, and Walker,  July  24,  1789. 

Carson,  Elisha,  and   Margaret   Eager,   Mar.    29,    1791. 
Carnahan,  Robert,    and   Agnes   Wallace,    (?)    Oct,    10, 

1791. 
Cowdeu,  William,    and   Eliza     Whit  clock,     Apr.      29, 

1793. 
Crowel,    Samuel,    and  Mary   Walker;    May    26,    1795. 
Carnahan,  James,  and  Katharine  Drugon,  (?)    Jan.-  20, 

1797. 
Crow,  George,  and  Margaret  McElwain,  Aug.   17,   1797. 
Culver,  Levi,  and  Nancy  Agnew,  Dec.  22,  1796. 

Durbarrow, and Martin,  May  13,  1793. 

Duncan,    William,    and   Nancy    McKeehan,    May    31, 

1792. 
Davidson,  John,    and   Betsy   Young,    Sept.    30,    1794. 
Davidson,    Francis,    and    Elizabeth    Myler,     Apr.     30, 

1795. 
Doudas,  John,   and  Nancv    McDowell,  Mar.   1,    1798. 
Duncan,  James,  and  Mary  Evving,  June  5, 1798. 
Emmett,  Samuel,  and  Rebecca  Bryson,  June    19,   1788. 
Espey,  John,  and    Margaret    Huston,    Nov.    10,    1789. 

Elder,  John,  and  JNIonemy,    (?)    Aug.    15,    1793. 

FuUerton,  Thomas  Elder,    and   Isabella  McCune,   Mar. 

27,  1788. 


PRESBYTERIAN       CITURCIT.  57 


Fowler,  John,  and  Eleanor  INIickie,  Feb.  19,  1789. 
Finley,  Samuel,  and  Polly  Brown,  INIay  5,  1789. 
Fox,  John,  and  Rachel  Crowell,  Nov.  22,  179G. 
Fleming,  James,  and  Jenny  Cloyd,  July  17,  1798. 
Frother,  Joseph,  and  Nancy  Liggate,  Nov.  20,  1798. 
Graham,  Francis,  and  Margaret  Randies,  May  22,  1788. 
Graham,  Isaiah,  and  Nancy  Lindsay,  Feb.  12,  1793. 
Geddes,  Dr.    John,    and  Elizabeth    Peebles,   June    17, 

1794. 
Green,  John,  and  Barbara  Ridsbaugh,    Feb.    24,    1794. 
Glenn,  Alexander   jind   Susanna  McKinstre,   June   11, 

1795. 
Geddes,  James,  and  Margaret  Douglass,    Mar.    1,  1796. 
Graham,  Arthur,  and  Nancy  McClure,    Feb.    14,  1797. 
Gillespie,  David,    and    Rebecca  Rippet,  ]\Iar.   8,   1798. 
Glendenning,    James,   and  Rebecca   Armstrong,     June 

12,  1798. 
Huston,  John,  and  Deborah  Patterson,    Dec.    15,  1789. 
Huston,  Robert,  and  Agnes  Bell,  Sept.  2,  1793. 
Harper,  William,  and  Esther  Patterson,    A]:>r.  1,  1794. 
Hughs,  Thomas,  and    Nancy    Crawford,  May   1,    1794. 

Hanna,   James,  and  Reed,    June     10,      1794. 

Hempliill,  James,  and  Cynthia  Jack,  Sept.  3,  1795. 
Hawkes,  John,  and  Christian  Espey,  Aug.  1(),  179G. 
Hadden,  (?)  Thomas,  and  IVFary  Dridge,  Mar.  14,  1797. 
Holmes,  George,  and  Sarah  Armstrong,  Aug.  14,  1798. 
Jones,  Hugli,  and  Anne  Gamble,  June  21,  1787. 
Johnson,    Andrew,  and   Elizabeth   Johnson,  Dec.     18, 

1788. 
Jones,  James,  and  Betsy  Bell,  June  10,  1794. 
Johnston,  Alexander,  and    Mary    Armstrong,   Dec.   30, 

1794. 


58  THE      BIG      SPRING 


Kennedy,  John,  and  Martha    (Ti-aham,    Apr.   2"J,  1787. 
Ker.  William  and  Mary  AYoods,  May  12,  1789. 
Kilgore,  Robert,  and   Margaret    Kelly,  Jan.  20,    1791. 
Kirkpatriek,  James,  and  Margaret     MeKtx^han,     Apr. 

7,  1791. 
Kerr,  Matthew,    and  Elizabeth  Work.  Jan.    1.     1793. 
Kelly.  James,    and  Sanih   Lttnderdale,  Jidy   lo,   1794. 
Liiughlin,  Dr.  Thomas,    and    Betsy  Laughlin,  Jan.  24, 

1791. 
Leeeo<.'k,  William,  and  Margtiret    Falkner,     May     30, 

1793. 
Laughlin,  Matthew,  and  Phebe   Piper,    Apr.   29,   1794. 
Lightcap,  William,  and  Mary     MeElwain,     Feb.     23, 

179i>. 
Lindsy,  Robeit,    and    Betsy  Connelly,  Feb.   21.    1797. 
Laughlin,    Pr.   Thomas,   and   Nancy  Piper.    July    18, 

1797. 
MoCleary,  John  and    Elizabeth    Ewing,   Jidy   5.    1787- 
MoRory,  Samuel  and   Anne   Speuee,    Dec.     4.     1788. 
McGlaughlin,    Daniel,    and    Elizabeth    Lightcap,    Feb. 

5,  1789. 
McCurdy,    David,    and    Appelby.     Aug.     25, 

1789.* 

McEhvaiu,  R..  and McGlaughlin,  Oct.   7.   1789. 

Mayes,  Samuel,    and    Barbara  Harper,    Dei'.    17,    1789. 
McCormick,    Joseph,    and  Leacy  Thompson,   Jan.    19, 

17W. 
McEhvain   Andrew,    and    Marg-aret     Bell,     Aug.      26, 

171H). 
McGuffine.  William    and    Elizabeth    Porter.   Jan.     25, 

1791. 
McCausland,  Mark,  and  Sallv  Hunter. 


PRE8BYTEKIAX       CHIHICH.  59 


Morrison,  Robert  and  Susanna  Work,  Oct.  11,  1791. 
McClaran,   Thomas,  and   Hannah    Mickey,     Oct.      20, 

1791. 

Moor,  Samuel,    and   McConnel,   Jan.   7,   1792. 

Mason,  Isaac,    and    Ehzabeth      Kirkpatrick,    June     7, 

1792. 
Martin,  Tliomas,  and  Widow  Stewart,  Aug.  16,  1792. 
McCune,  Samuel,  and  Hannah  Brady,  Dec.  26,  1798. 
McFaden,  John,  and  Nancy  Harper,  June  10,  1794. 
Michal,  John,  and  Katharine  Carrick,  June  10,  1794. 
INIurdock,  Robert,    and    Elizabeth   Cummins,   Nov.    18, 

1794. 
McCormick,  Robert,  and   Elizabeth   McCullough,  Nov. 

27,  1794. 
Marshall,  John,    and  Jane   Leacock,    Apr.    21,     1795. 

McGoffine, and  Sarah  Crair,  May  4,  1795. 

Martin,  John,  and  Hannah  Thompson,  Jan.  14,  1796. 
McKean,  William,  and  Sarah  Auld,  June  80,  1796. 
McKeehan,  John,  and  Betsy  McKeehan,  Oct.   25,   1796. 

Murphy,  Philip,  and  Jane Apr.  21,  1797. 

McCormick,  Joseph,    and    Charity  Connelly,  Apr.   27, 

1797. 
Mathers,  Robert,  and  Nancy  Carnahan,    Feb.   8,   1798. 
McLandburg,   John,   and    Margaret   Young,     Feb.     5, 

1799. 
Mitchel,  Andrew,  and  Mary  Ann  McKeehan,    Feb.    13, 

1799. 
Nicholdson,  John,  and  Mary  McElwain,  July  29,  1794. 
Patton,  John,  and  Elizabeth  McEntire,  Aug.    18,    1789. 
Patterson,  Obediah,  and  Anne  Patterson,  INIay  5,    1791. 
Porterlield,   William,    and    Mary   Shannon,    April     21, 

1795. 


60  THE      BIG      SPRING 


Patton,  Jolin,  and  Sarah  Shannon,  May  14,  1795. 
Pennwell,  Thomas,  and  Rachel  Rodman,  April  19,  1796. 
Plnnkett,  Isaac,  and  Lydia  Hanna,  May  24,  1796. 
Peebles,  Robert,  and  Jane  Kennedy,  June  21,  1796. 
Patton,  Andrew,  and  Mary  Patton,  Oct.  18,  1796. 
Patterson,  Nathan,  and  Nancy  Laughlin,  Dec.  13,  1798. 
Patterson,  Robert,  and  Armstrong,    Sept.    27, 

1792. 
Patterson,  John,  and  Jenny  Neal,  Oct.  11,  1792. 
Quigley,  James,  and   Grizelda   McKinney,   March    31, 

1795. 
Rainey,  James,    and   Elizabeth    Brownfield,    April    23, 

1795. 
Roberts,  John,  and  Nancy  Gillespie,  May  12,  1795. 
Smith,  Archibald,  and  Mary  Anderson,  Aug.  24,   1789. 
Shannon,  Isaac,  and  Jane  Porter,  Feb.  1,  1791. 

Seelly,  William,  and Morrow,  Oct.  31,  1791. 

Shannon,  Leonard,  and  Jane  Walker,  Jan.  3,  1793. 
Sterrett,  James,  and  Margaret  ]\IcClure,  Dec.  9,  1793. 
Sterrett,  Benjamin,  and  Peggy  Bell,  March  27,  1794. 
Scroggs,  Allan,  and  Peggy  Craig,  Sept.  22,  1795. 
Steel,  Robert,  and  Letty  Work,  Oct.  27,  1795. 
Scott,  John,  and  Mary  McFarlane,  April  5,  1796. 
Stephenson,  James,    and    Elizabeth   Sterrett,    May    10, 

179(). 
Shannon,  James,  and  Elizabeth  Gees,  March    16,   1797, 
Sharp,  David,  and  Isabella  Orr,  Aug.  14,  1798. 
Thompson,  Matthew,    and    Ruth    Robinson,    June   16, 

179(;. 
Taylor,  Andrew,  and  Mary  Lightcap,  Feb.  6,  1798. 
Vanhorn,  Joseph,  and  Martha  Ewing,  Nov.  22,  1792. 
Vanderbelt,  Cornelius,  and  Mary  Steel. 


PRESBYTERIAN       CHURCH.  61 


Woodbiirn,  Matthew,  and  Katharine   Fulton,  Feb.    12, 

1799. 
Wilson,  Samuel,  and  Peggy  Espey,  June  11,  1789. 
Wallace,  Patrick,  and  Safly  Officer,  Sept.  20,  1791. 
Wallace,  Hugh,  and  Margaret  Dearmon,  July    2,  1792. 
Woodburn,  James,  and  Nancy  Martin,  Feb.  14,  1793. 
Woodruff,    Anthony,    and    ]\lary   Chapman,  March   5, 

1793. 
Young,  John,  and  Sarah  McCann,  Sept.  18,  1798. 


THE  ADDRESS  IN  THE  MARRIAGE  CEREMONY  USED  BY  REV. 
SAMUEL    WILSON. 

"Regular  publication  has  been  made  of  these  persons 
intending  to  join  in  the  near  relation  of  husband  and 
wife. 

No  objections  have  yet  been  made.  I  now  call  upon 
any  person,  who  has  any  such  to  make,  that  he  now 
speak,  or  forever  hold  his  peace.  We  find  no  objec- 
tions from  without,  but  as  it  has  been  the  custom  of 
our  cluirch,  in  the  solemnization  of  marriage,  to  put  it 
seriously  to  the  persons  themselves,  whether  they  know 
any  cause,  either  by  previous  contract,  or  otherwise, 
wliy  they  may  not  be  joined  together  in  the  near  rela- 
tion, that  they  declare  it.  It  is  true,  such  contracts  do 
not  bind  in  law,  but  it  is  as  true,  tliat  they  do  bind 
conscience,  and  persons  ought  seriously  to  consider  such 
matters  before  they  violate  them.  Persons  may  con- 
sider suc'li  (luostious  improper,  as  it  is  not  likely  that 
they  came  jniljlicly  to  declare  these  things,  but  consider 
these  are  matters  in  which  conscience  alone  is  concerned, 
and  if  persons  will  injure  themselves,  it  is  no  reason 
why  those   wlio  are   authorized   to   solenniize   marriage 


62  THE       BIG      SPUING 


should  not  faithfully  discharge  their  duty.  I  then  ask 
you  sir,  whether  you  know  any  lawful  reason,  why  you 
may  not  be  joined  in  marriage  to  this  woman  Avho 
stands  on  your  left  hand — do  you  know  any  reason  ? 
Do  you  know  madam,  any  lawful  reason,  why  you  may 
not  be  joined  in  marriage  to  this  man,  who  stands  upon 
your  right  hand — Do  you  know  any  reason  ?  Mar- 
riage is  an  early  institution  of  God's  ow^n  appointment; 
it  took  place  between  our  first  parents  in  a  state  of  inno- 
cence, and  therefore,  is  said  to  be  honorable  in  all,  and 
the  bed  undefiled,  but  whoremongers  and  adulterers, 
God  will  judge.  Marriage  is  to  be  between  one  man 
and  one  woman,  and  there  are  certain  degrees  of  con- 
sanguinity, which  have  been  generally  forbidden.  The 
equal  proportion  of  the  different  sexes  forbids  polyg- 
amy, or  having  more  wives  than  one;  the  males  in  every 
age  being  to  the  females,  as  thirteen  to  twelve,  or 
twenty  to  nineteen,  as  though  infinite  wisdom  had  so 
ordered  it,  that  overplus  of  males,  should  make  their 
deficiency  by  war  and  other  dangerous  occupations. 

Altliough  the  form  of  marriage  has  varied  in  every 
age  and  nation,  yet  the  essential  part  of  it  appears  to  be 
the  consent  of  the  parties,  declared  before  witnesses; 
private  consent,  of  whatever  kind  or  nature  it  may  be, 
will  never  come  higher  than  a  contract,  and  in  conse- 
(]uence  will  not  bind  in  law. 

The  design  of  marriage  is,  that  fornication  may  be 
avoided,  and  as  our  race  is  more  dignified  than  the 
lower  creations,  so  then,  our  passions  should  l)e  regu- 
lated l)y  reason  and  religion.  It  is  likewise  intended 
for  prochicing  a  legitimate  offspring,  and  a  seed  for  the 
church.     There  are  duties   incumbent   upon  those   who 


PRESBYTERIAN       (HITRCH.  08 


enter  this  relation,  some  of  tlieni  are  equally  binding 
upon  both  ])arties,  some  uj>on  one  jiarty,  some  upon  the 
other.  First,  it  is  equally  binding  u])on  you  both,  to 
love  eaeh  others'  persons,  to  avoid  freedom  with  all 
others,  wliieh  formerly  might  have  been  excusable,  to 
keep  each  others'  lawful  secrets,  fidelity  to  the  marriage 
bed,  and  if  God  shall  give  you  an  offs])ring,  it  will  be 
mutually  l)inding  uj)on  you  both,  to  consult  their  spirit- 
ual, as  well  as  their  temporal  concerns.  Secondly,  it 
will  be  particularly  binding  upon  you,  sir,  who  is  to  be 
the  head  of  the  family,  to  maintain  the  authority  which 
God  hath  given  you.  In  every  society  there  nmst  be  a 
head,  and  in  families,  by  divine  authority,  this  is  given 
to  the  man,  but  as  woman  was  given  to  man  for  an 
helpmeet  and  a  bosom  companion,  you  are  not  to  treat 
this  woman  in  a  tyranical  manner,  much  less  as  a  slave, 
but  to  love  and  kindly  entreat  her,  as  becomes  you 
towards  one  so  nearly  allied  to  you.  The  relation  is  so 
jiear,  tliat  a  man  is  said  to  leave  father  and  mother  and 
cleave  to  his  wife,  and  the  twain  shall  be  one  flesh,  and 
to  show  that  love  is  due  to  such,  it  is  added,  no  man 
ever  hated  his  own  flesh,  but  noui'isheth  and  cherisheth 
it.  Lastly,  it  is  incumbent  u[)on  you,  madam,  who  is 
to  be  the  wife,  to  acknowledge  the  authority  of  him 
who  is  to  be  your  hus1)an(l,  and  for  this,  you  have  the 
exam])le  of  Sarah,  who  is  commended  for  calling  Abra- 
ham Lord. 

It  seems  to  ])e  your  i)i'ivilege  in  matters  in  which  you 
and  he. cannot  agree,  that  you  advise  with  him,  endeav- 
oring in  an  easy  way,  by  persuasion,  to  gain  him  to 
your  side;  but  if  you  cannot  in  this  way  gain  your 
point,  it  is  lil  and  proper  that   you    sul)mit    in    matters 


64  THE      BIG      SPRING 


ill  which  conscience  is  not  concerned.  It  will  be  your 
duty  in  a  particular  manner,  to  use  good  economy  in 
regard  to  those  things  which  may  be  placed  in  your 
hands.  In  a  word,  you  are  to  he  industrious  in  your 
place  and  station." 


THE   PASTORATE    OF    REV.     JOSHUA    WIL- 
LIAMS, D.  D. 

After  the  death  of  Rev.  Samuel  Wilson,  and  before 
the  settlement  of  Rev.  Joshua  Williams,  we  find  the 
pulpit  was  supplied  by  the  following  clergymen:  Revs. 
Robert  Wilson,  Thomas  Greer,  P.  Davidson,  JNIatthew 
Brown,  Mr.  Burck,  Willinm  Wilson,  Mr.  Anderson, 
Mr.  Linn,  Mr.  Herron,  Samuel  Waugh,  Mr.  Kennedy, 
Dr.  Cooper,  Mr,  Williams,  and  Rol)ert  Logan.  The 
preaching  of  the  latter  seems  to  have  pleased  the  con- 
gregation, as  a  subscrijDtion  pa])er  was  circulated  in 
1800,  with  a  view  of  raising  salary  and  giving  him  a 
call.  AYliether  a  call  was  extended  or  not,  we  have 
been  unable  to  find.  A  call  was  extended  to  Rev. 
Joshua  Williams,  then  pastor  of  tlie  churches  of  Derry 
and  Paxton,  which  was  accepted.  He  was  installed 
April  14,  18012.  Dr.  Williams'  ministry  of  twenty- 
seven  years,  was  one  of  uninterrupted  liarmony  and 
kindly  feeling,  between  pastor  and  people,  as  usually 
attends  the  ministrations  of  an  able  preacher  and  a 
faithful  pastor.  In  this  congregation,  he  married  oGO 
couples.  On  the  marriage  of  John  Scouller  and  Jane 
Brown,  April  4,  1809,  the  bans  were  published  the  last 
time  in  the  Big  Spring  Church.  He  baptized  six  hun- 
dred and  seventy-four  children,  and  admitted  four  hun- 
dred and  fifty-two   persons    to    the    communion    of    the 


PRESBYTEIITAN       CHURCH.  65 


church.  During  the  latter  part  of  his  ministry,  the 
use  of  tokens  were  dispensed  with  at  eonnuunion.  In 
1817,  the  first  ISabbath  school  was  organizetl  in  the 
church  as  a  union  school.  Its  organization  was  largely 
due  to  the  efforts  of  John  INIoor,  who  afterwards  became 
superintendent,  in  which  capacity  he  served  for  a  num- 
ber of  years.  For  several  years,  during  the  ministry  of 
Dr.  Williams,  James  Work  was  clerk  or  leader  of  the 
sino-inff.  He  acted  as  such,  at  least  from  1817  to  1824, 
at  a  salar}^  of  twenty-five  dollars  per  annum.  At  a 
later  date,  John  Davidson  was  precentor.  In  1821),  Dr. 
Williams  severed  his  connection  as  ])astor  of  the  church 
owing  to  failure  of  health. 


MEMBERS  RECEIVED  INTO  THE    BIG    SPRING     CHURCH     BY 
REV.  JOSHUA  WILLIAMS,  D.  D. 
MAY    1,  1802. 

Mary  Duncan.  Andrew  Thompson. 

John  I^aughlin.  Abraham  Dunbar. 

OCTOBER,  1802. 
William  Cilenn  and  wife.        William  Davidson. 
Matthew    Thompson     and     Jane  Lindsy. 

wife.  Mr.  McBride. 

INlatthew  Adams  and    wife.     Charles  8haw. 
Jane  Adams.  Mrs  Clendenning. 

Sanuiel     Williamson     and     Rachel  Fox. 

wife. 

JUNE  12,  1803. 

Jane  INIcCracken.  Sanuu'l  jMcCracken. 

Mrs.  McBride.  John  Clendenning. 

Widow  Ripet.  Richard  Adams  and  wife. 

John  Martin  and  wife.  Rebecca  Lonir. 


66  THE      BIG      SPRING 


Mrs.  Clendenning.  Mary  Brown. 

SEPT.  11,  1803. 

Alexander     McBetli     and  JMartlia  Hamilton. 

wife.  Polly  Laughlin. 

Samuel  Sibbet  and  wife.  Selfridge  and  wife. 
Charity  Laughlin. 

JUi\E  4,  1804. 

Elizalieth  Flint.  Henry  James. 

Lacy  Davidson.  Susan  Davidson. 
John  McKeehan,  jr. 

OCT,  28,  1804. 

James  IMathers.  Agnes  Kingi)orough. 

JNIary  Heden.  James  Fleming. 

MAY  H),  1805. 
Isabella  Davidson.  Frances  Hays. 

Robert  Thompson.  Widow  Vanderbilt. 

Ann  Davidson.  James  Graham. 

OCTOBER  14,  1805. 
Mary  Stephenson.  ]\Iary  Morrow. 

Mary  Woods.  Nathan  Woods. 

MAY  13,  180G. 
Mrs.  McEntire.  Jane  McFarlane. 

Jane  Stephenson. 

OCTOBERS,  1806. 
James  Sharp  and  wife.  Nathan  Means. 

Katharine  Elliott.  Martha  Montgomery. 

Joseph  Williams.  Kachel  Williams. 

Ann  Montgomery. 

MAY  10,  1807. 
AVilliam  Green.  Margaret  Buchanan. 


Martha  Roberts. 


PRESBYTERIAN      CHURCH.  67 


OCTOBER  4,  1807. 
Tlionias  Connelly.  Jane  Lindsay. 

Mary  Garnel.  Benjamin  Garncl. 

Mary  Connelly.  Elizabeth  Duncan. 

MAY  8,  1808. 
Mary  Russel.  Jane  Boyd. 

Nancy  Harper.  ]\Iartlia  Boyd. 

William  Boyd.  Catharine  Pollock. 

OCTOBER  30,  1808. 
Mary  JMcGuffin.  Martha  Graham. 

Corneliu.s  Yanderl)ilt    and     Snsana  Graham, 
wife. 

MAY  18,  1809. 
Daniel  Leckey.  James  jNIcCord. 

David  Bine. 

OCTOBER  22,  1809. 
John  Benson  and  wife.  Susan  Davidson. 

Joseph  Duncan    and    wife.     Nancy  Davidson. 
John     McWilliams      and     Joseph  Baker. 

wife.  John  Williamson. 

JUNE  2,  1810. 
William  Williams.  Paul  Pierce. 

Sarah  Leckey.  ]\Iary  McGuffin. 

JMartha  Sharp.  George  Leckey. 

James  Montgomery.  Mary  Sharp. 

Sarah  Leckey.  Philip  Warner. 

Mary  Williams.  Thomas  Wallace. 

Mrs.  Irvine  and    daugliter. 

OCTOBER  21,  IslO. 
Catharine  Laugldin.  Barton  Gray. 

Martha  Donaldson.  PLinnah  Laughlin. 

Prutlence  Davidson.  llobert  McBride. 


68 


THE      BIG      SPRING 


Rhoda  Thompson. 
Margaret  Gray. 
Elizabeth  Pollock. 


Jane  Donaldson. 
Thompson. 


Eleanor  Vanderbilt. 
JUNE  18,  1811. 
Robert  Espey  and  wife.  Ann  Wallace. 


James  Irvine. 
Nancy  Gillespie. 
Mrs.  Knettle. 
Eleanor  Brown. 
Jane  James. 
David  Davidson. 


William  Vandyke. 
]Maria  Patton. 
Ralph  Ewing. 
Samuel  McKeehan. 


John  McClellan. 
Eleanor  Dahr. 
Rachel  Glenn. 
Ann  Gillesj^ie. 
William  Lindsay. 
John  Brown. 
OCTOBER,  1811. 

John  Bawyer. 
Ewinc. 


Deborah  McKeehan. 

]\Iartlia  McKeehan. 
JUNE  1812. 

Catharine  Dougherty, 

Robert  McElwain. 

Eleanor  Mickey. 

Priscilla  Carson. 

]\Iartha  Lytle. 

Jane  McElwain. 
OCTOBER  25,  1812. 
Sally  Blair.  Jane  Davidson. 

Rosanna  INIcCord.  Andrew  JNIcCord. 

George  Davidson  and  wife.     John  McBride. 
John  Ross. 

JUNE  6,  1813. 
AVilliam  Bell.  John    McCune   and 

Francis  Fulton    and    wife. 


Eliza  McFarlane. 
John  Gourd. 
John  Means. 
Susana  McCormick. 
Nancy  Mickey. 
Mary  Gourd. 


wife. 


PRESBYTERIAN       CHURCH.  69 


OCTOBER  24,  1813. 
Ezra  MoiTi«oii.  John  McBride  and  wife. 

AiulreAv  Morrow  and  wife.     William  McFarlane. 
John  Shields. 

MAY  1,  1814. 
William  Connelly.  Jane     Montgomery,     wife 

INIartha  Cowen.  of  John. 

John  Montgomery.  Mary  Green. 

Jo8e})h  Hershaw  and  wife.     Elizabeth  Montgomery. 
Elizaheth  Ijyneh.  Sarah  Lowry. 

MAY  14,  1815.      . 
]\rary  Alexander.  Wm.  McCune  and  wife. 

Wm.  Davidson  and  wife.        Maria  Laughlin. 

OCTOBER  1,  1815. 

Eliza  Geddes.  Eliza  Fleming. 

jNlary  Huston.  John  Johnston. 

,Tose})h  Brown.  James  Laughlin,  jr. 

Eliza  Woods.  Rosanna  McCoy. 

«Jane  Wilson.  Jane    Johnston,     wife     of 
Xaney  Huston.  John. 

J)avid  Ross.  John  Brown. 

MAY  12,  181(5. 
John  Shannon  and  wife.  Samuel  Tvindsay. 

AVilliam  Coojier  and    wife.     Jeddiah  Hadden. 
Margaret  ^McFarlane.  Sarah  Harper. 

OCTOBER  20,  181(5. 
Widow^  Brown.  Eliza  Ross. 

Priscilla  Leacock.  Mary  Fi-eneh. 

James  Ray.  Rachel  Crawford. 

Alexander    Laughlin    and     .Joseph  Connelly, 
wife.  John  French. 


70 


THE      BIG      SPUING 


MAY  1817. 
Nancy  Graham.  Esther  McWilliams. 

William  Brattan.  John  Mathers. 

Alexander  Glenn.  Thomas  Walker. 

Polly  McClure. 

OCTOBER,  1811. 
Alexander  Donaldson   and     James  Green. 

wife. 
Andrew    McCandlish   and 

wife. 


Thomas     IMcEntire 

wife. 
Mary  l^avidson. 
John  Gray  and  wife. 

Elizabeth  Thompson 
Mary  McEntire. 
Susanna  McElwain.' 
Nancy  Langhlin. 
Elizabeth  Buchanan. 
Mary  McKnight. 
Elizabeth  McEntire. 


Mary  Dunbar. 
Martha  Peebles. 
Josiah  Hood. 
James  Oliver. 
Elizabeth  McClure. 
Alexander  Williamson, 
Rosanna  Dunbar. 
Joseph  Thompson. 


Elizabeth  Cowen. 
Ann  Leckey. 
Elizabeth  Kennedy, 
and     William  McBride. 

Catharine  Dougherty. 
Mary  Leckey. 
Sarah  McElwain. 

MAY,  1818. 

John  Dickson. 
Eliza  Laughlin. 
Margaret  Huston. 
Ma rga  ret  McK n igh t, 
William  McElwain. 
Samuel  Culbertson. 
INIary  Buchanan. 
OCTOBER,  1818. 

Jane  Fleming. 
Eleanor  Davidson. 
Mrs.  Crowel. 
Isabella  Dunbar. 
Mary  Thompson. 
William  Brittan. 
Arthur  Graham. 
James  Williamson. 


PRESBYTERIAN       CHURCH. 


73 


MAY  9,  1819. 

Lydin  Jacob. 

Ebeiiezer    Campbell     and 
wife. 
OCTOBER  10,  1819. 

Mary  Allen. 
Elizabeth  White. 
Nancy  Lindsay. 
Moses  Williamson. 
John  Langhlin. 
Jane  G.  Williams. 
Thomas  Piper. 
John  Heagy. 
Eliza  Heagy. 
MAY  21,  1820. 

Nancy  Buchanan. 
William  Lnsk. 
Mary  Lnsk. 
Gusilla  Kelly. 
Ann  Laird. 


Mrs.  King. 
Kebecca  Pierce. 
Joseph  Jacob. 

Mary  Wilson. 
Eleanor  Morrow. 
JMargaret  Carnahan. 
Elizabeth  Kilgore. 
Rebecca  Murphy. 
Elizal)etli  Mickey. 
]\Liry  Wallace. 
Jane  Cowen. 
William  Allen. 


William  Morrow. 
Thomas  Sibbet. 
Hannah  McCune. 
James  Barr. 
jNfargaret  Langhlin. 
Sarah  Buchanan. 

OCTOBER  22,  1820. 
Mrs.  McKane  and   daugh-     p]mily  Davidson. 


ter. 
Matthew  Davidson. 

William  Davidson. 
Thomas  Leacock. 
]\rary  Beatty. 

James  Allen. 
Jane  Allen. 


James  Beatty,  jr. 
Harry  Culbertson. 

MAY,  1821. 

Jane  Ewing. 
Ruth  Harlan. 
Jane  McBride. 

OCTOBER,  1821. 

Nancy  Graham. 
Agnes  Brown. 


74 


THE      BIG      SPRING 


Samuel  McCormick 
James  Lindsay. 
Margaret  Shields. 
Agnes  Richie. 


Elizabath  Boyd. 
Elizabeth  Fitzsimmons 
Lacy  Ralston. 
Mary  Caldwell. 
Eleanor  Thompson. 
Esther  Thompson. 
Rachel  Sterrett. 
Eliza  McFarlane. 
Elsey  McElwain. 
Mary  McElwain. 
Eliza  Vanderbilt. 
Susanna  Holmes. 
Eleanor  Montgomery. 
David  Ralston. 


Sanuiel  Graliam 
Elizabeth  Graham. 
John  Davidson. 
Jacob  Stough. 
Margaret  Stough. 


Nancy  York. 
Nancy  Tliornton. 
Joseph  McKibben, 
Tabitha  McKiblien. 
Mary  Donnelly. 
Joseph  JMcElheny. 


Isabel  Leckey. 
Emily  Leckey. 
Eleanor  Brittan. 
]\Liry  Brittan. 
JUNE  2,  1822. 

William  French. 

James  Ross. 

Andrew  Thompson. 

James  McElwain. 

Peter  Wilt. 

Pati'ick  Fitzsimons. 

James  Mitchel. 

Jane     Mitchel,      wife      of 

James. 
James  Davidson. 
Eliza  Wills. 
Ann    Davidson,     wiie     of 

James. 
Mary  jMorrow. 
OCTOBER  13,  1822. 

Mary  Williams. 
Elizabeth  Ewing. 
Mary  Gillespie. 
William  Laughlin. 
Mariah  McCormick. 
JUNE  13,  1823. 

Jane  McElheny. 
Ezra  Morrison. 
John  McKeehan. 
Tabitha  McKeehan. 
Eliz;d)eth  Davidson. 


PRESBYTERIAN       CHURCH. 


75 


William  Duncan. 
Kev.  David  SU'rrett 
Tabitha  Reed. 
]\Iargaret  JMcCune. 
iAfark  McKeehan. 

Eliza  8terrett. 
Eliza  McCormick. 
Jude  Carnahan. 
William  Carnahan. 
Margaret  8il)l)et. 
Nancy  Kennedy. 
Jane  Lindsay. 

Eliza  Conn  el. 
Mary  Brown. 
Isaac  Koontz. 
Isabella  McKibben 

Joiin  Lee. 

Martha  Weakley. 
IMargaret  Geddes. 
Re^)ecra  Miller. 
William  Atchison. 
Rol)ert  Kennedy. 
rli)hii  EwinLi:. 


OCTOBER  5,  1828. 

Eleanor  Wilt. 
Esther  Wilt. 
Susan  Irvin. 
Sarah  Koontz. 


MAY  30,  1824. 

Jane  Koontz. 
Samuel  French. 
John  Wilt. 
Benjamin  Cooper. 
Sarah  Cooper. 
Isabella  Richie. 
Joshua  D.  Williams. 
OCTOBER  10,  1824. 

Mary  Brown. 
Isal)ella  Johnson. 
Sarah  Geddes. 
lA^wis  H.  Williams. 

MAY,  1825. 

James  Logan. 

MAY  26,  1826. 

Isabel  Kilgore. 
Jane  Buchanan. 
Letitia  Work. 
Susanna  Work. 
Ellis  Thompson. 


Matthew  Laird. 
Susanna     Laiid 
Matthew. 


JUNE  2,  1827. 

Eliza  K.  ^Nlelroy. 
wife     of    JNIargaret  Carnahan. 
Hannah  McCune. 


76  THE      BIG      SPRING 


Jane  Phillips.  Sarah  Patterson. 

Jane  Smith.  Catharine  Leckey. 
Mrs.  Lindsy. 

JUNE,  1828. 

Jacob  Fosnanght.  Jane  MeBride. 

Mary  Fosnanght,    wife    of  James  Fulton. 

Jacob.  Isabella  Fulton. 

William  Brown.  Robert  Adams. 

Jane  BroAvn,  wife  of  Wil-  Ann  Adams,  wife  of  Bob- 

liam.  ert. 

Samuel  Miller.  James  Devenport. 


BAPTISMS    BY    REV.    JOSHUA    WILLIAMS,  D.  D. 

The  records  of  Dr.  Williams  do  not   give  the   names 
of    children    baptized    until    1821,    consequently    this 
record  is  incomj^lete. 
John  Laughlin,  son   of  William   Davidson,  born   Nov. 

10,  1816,  baptized  May  6,  1821. 
William   INIiller,  son  of  William   Davidson,  born   Kov. 

19,  1820,  baptized  May  6,  1821. 
Robert,  son  of  Isaac  Koontz,  liorn  Jan.  2,  1819,  baptized 

June  4,  1821. 
Isaac,  son  of  Isaac  Koontz,  Ijorn  Sept.  27,  1820,  baptized 

June  4,  1821. 
M'dvj  A.,  daughter  of  John  McWilliams,  born  June  12, 

1809,  baptized  June  4,  1821. 
James,  son   of  John   INIcWilliams,  l)orn  Feb.  21,  1812, 

baptized  June  4,  1821. 
Eliza,  daughter  of  John  McWilliams,  l)orn  Dec.  8, 1816, 

baptized  June  4,  1821. 
Hetty  G.,  daughter  of  John  INIcWilliams,  born  June  1, 

1820,  bai)tized  June  4,  1821. 


PRESBYTERIAN      CHURCH.  77 


Tlieressa  J.,  daughter  of  George  Espy,  born  Feb.  14, 
1814,  baptized  June  4,  1821. 

Augustus  A.,  son  of  George  Espy,  born  June  16,  1816, 
baptized  June  4,  1821. 

Addah  L.,  daughter  of  George  Espy,  born  May  19, 1817, 
])aptized  June  4,  1821. 

Mills  B.,  son  of  George  Espy,  born  Oct.  V.),  1820,  bap- 
tized June  4,  1821. 

Mary  Jane,  daughter  of  Josiah  Hood,  born  June  20, 
1818,  baptized  June  4,  1821. 

Margaret  A.,  daughter  of  Josiah  Hood,  born  Feb.  9, 
1820,  baptized  June  4,  1821. 

Ruth  Harlan,  aged  27  years,  baptized  June  4.  1821. 

John  M.,  son  of  Ruth  Harlan,  baptized  1821. 

Secustus,  son  of  Jane  McBride,  born  Nov.  2,  1820,  bap- 
tized June  4,  1821. 

David,  son  of  Robert  McBride,  born  ISept.  15,  1801, 
baptized  June  4,  1821. 

Margaret,  daughter  of  John  Gourd,  born   Feb.  1,  1812. 

William,  son  of  John  Gourd,  born  Sept.  14,  1814. 

Joseph  D.,  son  of  John  Gourd,  l)orn  April  19,  1818. 

Nancy,  daughter  of  Francis  Fulton,  born  Feb.  16,  1802. 

F.  Huston,  son  of  Francis  Fulton,  born  April  16,  1805. 

Isabel,  daughter  of  Francis  Fulton,  l)orn  April  17,  1807. 

Kezia,  daughter  of  Francis  Fulton,  l)orn  Nov.  5,  1810. 

Matilda,  daughter  of  Francis  Fulton,  born  Oct.  15,  1812. 

A\'illiani  Harjier  Wallace,  born  May  15,  1819,  baptized 
Oct.  18.  1819. 

Elizabeth  Ralston  Jacob,  born  July  9,  1818. 

Eleanor  Jacol),  l)orn  May  16,  1816. 

John,  son  of  Henry  Drudge. 

Jane,  daughter  of  Henry  Drudge. 


78  THE      BIG      SPRING 


Sarah,  daughter  of  Henry  Drudge. 

Wilson,  son  of  Henry  Drudge. 

Mary,  daughter  of  Henry  Drudge. 

Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Henry  Drudge. 

Cassendannah,  daughter  of  Henry  Drudge. 

Rosanna,  daughter  of  Henry  Drudge. 

Mary  Ellen,  daughter  of  Henry  Drudge. 

Mary  Nicholdson,  daughter  of  Richard  and  Rosanna 
McElvain,  born  Oct.  13,  1808. 

Andrew  Thompson,  son  of  Richard  and  Rosanna  McEl- 
vain, born  June  18,  1811. 

Elizabeth  Bell,  daughter  of  Richard  and  Rosanna  McEl- 
vain, born  March,  1818. 

Mary  Jane,  daughter  of  Richard  and  Rosanna  JNIcEl- 
vain,  born  March,  18,  1816. 

James,  son  of  Richard  and  Rosanna  McElvain,  born 
March  12,  1819. 

Marjory  Ellen,  daughter  of  Richard  and  Rosanna  McEl- 
vain, born  Sept.  4,  1822. 

Ruth  Rosanna,  daughter  of  Ricliard  and  Rosanna  Mc- 
Elvain, born  Nov.  13,  1825. 

Margaret  Bell,  daughter  of  James  and  Alice  McElvain, 
born  Nov.  20,  1824. 

Andrew  McKinney,  son  of  James  and  Alice  McElvain, 
born  April  11,  1827. 

Jane,  daughter  of  James  and  Alice  McElvain,  born 
March  18,  1823. 

William  S.,  son  of  James  and  Alice  McElvain,  born 
Dec.  30,  1829. 


MAKRIAGES    15 Y    THE    REV.  JOSHUA    WILLI AMS,   D.  D. 

Applegate,  John  and  jMary  Rightmyer,  May  13,  1802. 


PRESBYTERIAN       CHURCH.  70 


Adams,  Henry  and  Mary  McKeelian,  July  2'2,  1802. 

Asper,  John  and INFcKinney,  INIay  20,  1813. 

Armor,  k^amncl  and  Jrlannali  Davis,  Ang.  7,  1821. 

Alter,  Benjamin  and  Nancy  Lindsay,  JNIar.  20,  1823. 

Adams,  Thomas  and  Jane  Eliza  Adams,  Nov.  19,  1835. 

Easier,  Thomas  and  Maria  Wynkoop,  Oct.  27,  1836. 

Bigler,  Jacob  and  Snsanna  Duck,  July  11,  1803.  Par- 
ents of  Governor  Jolm  I^igler,  of  California  and  Gov- 
ernor William  Bigler  of  Pennsylvania. 

Brady,  Joseph  and  Barbara  Bheme  (?),  Mar.   12,  1807. 

Brown,  John  and  Eleanor  Gillespie,  Mar.  17,  1807. 

Benson,  John  and  Elizal)etli  Gray,  Dec.  10,  1807. 

Baker,  Sanuiel  and  Jane  McElwain,  Dec.  1,  1808. 

Bell,  George  and  Mary  Willis,  Apr.  2(),  1810. 

Butler,  Jolm  and  Nancy  Hunter,  Mar.  28,  1811. 

Ballentine,  George  and  Letitia  Martin,  Ai)r.  1),  1811. 

Brackenridge,  Andrew  and  Martha  Sharp,  Apr.  7,  1812. 

I^erkley,  Robert  and  Elizabeth  Martin,  Apr.  6,  1813. 

lilain,  Thomas  and  Mary  Sliar]),  Apr.  14,  1813. 

Baker,  Jacob  and  Mary  Kincade,  Nov.  23,  1815. 

Blain,  John  and  P^lizabeth  Kilgore,  Mar.  25,  1819. 

Brown,  Joseph  and  Nancy  Richie,  July  25,  1821. 

Benner,  Josepli  and  Elizabeth  Cook,  Oct.  2,  1823. 

Brown,  Jo)in  and  Mary  Richie,  Mar.  30,  1824. 

Barr,  William  and  Sarah  Geddes,  July  27,  1825. 

Carnahan,  Adam  and  Rutli  McElwain,  Feb.  25,  1802. 

Craighead,  (ieorge  and  Polly  (Tillespie,  Apr.  1,  1802. 

Connelly,  AVilliam  and  Rachel  Scroggs,  Apr.  20,  1802. 

Clemmons.  James  and  Nancy  Hanna,  Aug.  IH,  1803. 

Carson,  Andrew  and  Mary  Fortner,  Apr.  8,  180(). 

Charlton,  Robert  and  Pliel)e  HoU,  July  2,  1807. 

Campbell,  James  and  Elizabeth  French,  Oct.  3,  1809. 


80  THE      BIG      SPRING 


Campbell,  David  and  Sarah  Cooper,  Jan.  30,  1812. 

Crow,  John  and  Sally ,  Jnly  1, 1813. 

Carothers,  Andrew  and  INIary  Hays,  Dec.  8,  1814. 
Coulter,  Joseph  and  Mary  Wilson,  Sept.  24,  1816. 
Connelly,  Joseph  and  Jane  Carotliers,  Apr.  24,  1817. 
Carson,  John  E.,  and  Jane  Peeple  (?),  June  18,  1818. 

Clark,  Jacob  and  Margaret ,  Sept.  22,  1818. 

Carnahan,  William  and  Mary  Huston,  Oct.  13,  1818. 
Carothers,  John    R.  and    Margaret  McBride,  Nov.  12, 

1818. 
Clendennin,  James  and  Elizabeth   l^arr,  May,  27,  1819. 
Cull)ertson,  Samuel  and  Mary  Ury,  May  23,  1820. 
Cope,  Philip  and  Elizabeth  Uxor,' Nov.  30,  1820. 
Carothers,  Josiali  and  Mary  McNair,  Oct.  4,  1821. 
Cook,  Thomas  and  Sarah  Scroggs,  Mar.  5,  1822> 
Crowell,  James  and  Mary  Leckey,  Mar.  18,  1824. 
Carnahan,  AVilliam  and  Margaret  Cooper,  May  27,  1825. 
Carothers,  James  and  Mary  C.  Carothers,  Apr.  24, 1827. 
Carothers,  Martin  and  Ellen  Duffy,  Oct.  12,  1827. 
Clark,  Peter  and  Hester  Ward,  Nov.  2(3,  1834. 
Cope,  Benjamin  and  Sarah  McDowell,  Apr.  25,  1822. 
Duncan,  William  and  Mary  JMitchel,  Dec.  1,1801. 
Dowds,  Robert  and  Rachel  Willis,  Apr.  10,  180(3. 
Davidson,  James  and  Jane  McFarlane,   June  23,    1807. 
Davidson,    George   and   Jennie    MeKeehan,    Mar.     23, 

1807. 
Davidson,  Patrick  and  Nancy  Randolph,  May  18,  1809. 
Dahr,  Joseph  and  Eleanor  Vanderbilt,  Nov.  (3,  1810. 
Douglas,  George  and  Grissy  MeKeehan,  Feb.  12,   1811. 
Douglas,  William  and  Eleanor  Brown,  Apr.  20,  1812. 
Dearmond,  William  and  Martha  Gourd,  Apr.  23,   1812. 
Davidson,  Alexander  and  Jane  Woodburn,  Oct.  14^1813. 


PRESBYTEKIAN       CHURCH.  81 


Davidson,  William  and  Mary  Miller,  Nov.  8,  1814. 
Davidson,  Matthew  and  Emily  Woodburn,  Oct.  28,1819. 
Duncan,  William  and  Isabella  McCune,  Oct.  5,  1820. 
Davidson,  John  and  Margaret  Walker,  Dec.  11,  1823. 
Duncan,  William  and  Nancy  Fulton,  Mar.  30,  1824. 
Duncan,  Joseph  and  Jane  McNickle,  Dec.  30,  1824. 
Donaldson,  Thomtis  and  Eleanor  Turner,  Feb.  10, 1825. 
Davidson,  John  and  Eleanor  Thompson,  June  9,   1825. 
Duffy,  John  and  Sarah  Longwell,  Aug.  2,  1827. 
Davidson,  William  and  Ann  Leckey,  May  1,  1828. 
Davidson,  Sanuiel  and  Catharine  Leckey,  Oct.  19,  1830. 
Davidson,  James  and  Ann  Logan,  Apr.  5,  1831. 
Dickson,  John  and  Jane  McKnight,  June  20,  1822. 
Endsly,  James  and  Elizabeth  Walker,  Mar.  12,  1805. 
Ewing,  James  and  Eleanor  Gillespie,  Apr.  25,  1809. 
Espy,  Robert  and  Elizabeth  Carson,  Mar.  14,  1810. 
Espy,  George  and  Rebecca  Glenn,  Feb.  4,  1813. 
Ewing,  James  and  Elizabeth  Gillespie,  Oct.  21,  1813. 
Ege,  Joseph  and  Jane  Woodburn,  Oct.  7,  1829. 
Fuhrhob,  Godlieb  and  Eva  Smith,  Dec.  10,  1807. 
Fulton,  John  and  Sa41y  Wills,  Feb.  29, 1816. 
Fenton,  John  and  Elizabeth  Carson,  Jan.  28,  1819. 
Fulton,  James  and  Mary   McKinnie  (?),  Apr.  29,  1819. 
Farrier,  David  and  Jane  Ryan,  Mar.  25,  1824. 
French,  James  and  Jane  Cowen,  Apr.  5,  1826. 
Graham,  Thomas  and  Mary  McKeehan,  Mar.  16,  1802. 
Glenn,  William  and  Rosanna  Thompson,  Apr.  15,  1802. 
Grier,  James  and  Amy  Espy,  Feb.  12,  1805. 
Glenn,  James  and  ^Mary  Reid,  ]\Iay  8,  1806. 
Greenwood,   John    and   Catharine   Ferguson,  Sept.  17, 

1807. 
Gray,  Barton  and  Margaret  Mickey,- Feb.  23,  1810. 


82  THE      BIG       SPUING 


Giffiii,  Robert  and  Catharine  McCrea,  May  9,  1811. 
Glenn,  David  and  Jane  McKeehan,  Feb.  11,  1812. 
Geese,  Cbristian  and  Elizabeth  Mahon,  July  1,  1813. 
Greenfield,  Hugh  and  Nancy  Tliompson,  Mar.  9,  1815. 
Graham,  Rev.  James  and  Rachel  Glenn,  Nov.  26,  1815. 
Glenn,  Alexander  and   Maria   Laughlin,  Mar.  5,  1816. 
Graham,    Robert   and   Elizabeth    McFarlane,  Feb.   10, 

1824. 
Graham,  George  and  Elizabeth  Alter,  Feb.  o,  1830. 
Greason,  Samuel  Carothers  and   Mary  Davidson,  Nov. 

23,  1837. 
Hays,  William  T.  and  Polly  I\lcKil3l)in,  Apr.  24,  1804. 
Hard,  John  W.  and  Ann  Brown,  Nov.  4,  1806. 
Herron,  Thomas  and  Margaret  Drudge,  Nov.  26,  1807. 
Hudson,  George  and  Catharine  Pollock,  Feb.  9,  1809. 
Huston,  James  and  Rachel  Crowel,  Aug.  31,  1809. 
Hamil,  William  and  Mary  Allen,  Jan.  25,  1810. 
Hays,  Patrick  and  Margaret  Mickey,  Jan.  30,  1810. 
Huston,  Jonathan  and  Nancy  Mickey,  Jan.  4,  1810. 
Hudson,  James  and  Mary  Pollock,  1810. 
Hutton,  John  and  Harriett  HeigH  Feb.  18,  1813. 
Huston,  James  and  Sally  McCullough,  Mar.  17,  1814. 
Hamilton,  John  and  Lydia  McKeehan,  Mar.  12,  1816. 
Haden,  Jedediah  and  Mary  Painter,  May  30,  1816. 
Hume,  James  and  ]\Luy  McWilliams,  Apr.  9,  1818. 
Heagy,  David  and  ]\Iary  A.  Young,  July  9,  1821. 
Holms,  John  and  Elizabeth  Albert,  Mar.  25,  1824. 
Herron,  James  and  Isabella  Johnson,  Sept.  15,  1815. 
Huston,  Samuel  and  Ann  Fulton,  Dec;  22,  1825. 
Irvin,  James  and  Prudence  Leckey,  Mar.  8,  1808. 
Irvine,  Samuel  and  Rosanna  Dunbar,  Apr.  14,  1829. 
Jacob,  Thomas  and  Jane  Pierce,  May  20,  1810. 


PRESBYTERIAN       CHURCH. 


Jacob,  THoinas  and  Catharine  INIcDonald,  1810. 
Johnston,  John  and  Jane  Hnston,  Jan,  26,  1815. 
Jaekson,  Jolm  and  EHzahetli  Rouse  (?),  Mar.  2,  1820. 
Jacob,  David  and  Eleanor  Davidson,  Mar.  8,  1821. 
Johnston,  John  and  Elizabeth  Pollock,  Nov.  8,  1821. 
Kelly,  Robert  and  Sarah  Norton,  Dee.  31,  1807. 
Kean,  John  and  Jane  Adams,  Mar.  14,  1805. 
Kinkaide,  James  and  Dianna  Lee,  Nov.  9,  1809. 
Kerr,  Alexander  and  Sarali  Galbraith,  Mar.  3,  1814. 
Kilgore,  Snnuiel  and   Snsan  Thompson,  Mar.  14,  1816. 
Kinkaide,  William  and  Elizabeth  Scoby,  Apr.  1,  1817. 
Koontz,  Isaac  and  Jane  Carnahan,  Mar.  26,  1818. 
Kennedy,  Robert  and  Nancy  Kilgore,  May  13,  1820. 
KeiT,  William  and  Eliza  Sterrett,  June  15,  1824. 
Kennedy,  James  and  Maria  Barr,  May  3,  1825. 
Kilgore,  Ezekiel  and  Elizabeth  Graham,  Nov.  9,  1825. 
Knettle,  William  and  Lacy  Lindsay,  Jan.  3,  1828. 
Kilgore,  Jesse  and  Nancy  Sharp,  Aug.  13,  1828. 
Kinsley,  Jacob  and  Charlotte  Roberts,  Apr.  8,  1830. 
Lightcap,  Thomas  and  Widow   Delany,  Apr.  21,  1803. 
Lemon,  Hugh  and  Rachel  Hays,  Apr.  24,  1804. 
Leckey,  George  and  Sarah  Crowel,  Nov.  22,  1808. 
Leckey,  Daniel  and  Ann  Davidson,  Mar.  16,  1809. 
Lee,  George  and  Sally  Latshaw,  Mar.  28,  1811. 
Lee,  John  and  Elizabeth  Fulton,  A])r.  21,  1812. 
Laugldin,  John  and  Margaret  Alexander,  May  18,  1813. 
Linn,  Samuel  and  Catharine  Laughlin,  Dec.  2,  1813. 
Laughlin,  John  and  Margaret  Jones,  June  30,  1814. 
Laughlin,  John  and  Mary  Williamson,  Dec.  5,  1815. 
IJnn,  AVilliam  Jind  Hannah  Laughlin,  Apr.  2,  1816. 
Lindsay,  Samuel  and  Elizabeth  Atchison,  Oct.  23,  1817. 
Lytic,  George  and  Barbara  Cami)bell,  Feb.  26,  1818. 


84  THE      BIG      SPRING 


Leacock,  Thomas  and  Elizabeth  Fleming,  Aug.  5,  1818. 

Lowery,  Isaac  and  Hannah  Martin,  Dec.  25,  1821. 

Linn,  John  and  Mary  McClure,  Mar.  11,  1814. 

Logan,  James  and  Ann  Laird,  Mar.  23,  1824. 

Leckey,  George  and  Nancy  Davidson,  July  28,  1825. 

Leburn,  Robert  and  Nancy  Bell,  Feb.  14,  1826.  (Col- 
ored.) 

Lefevre,  David  Alter  and  Mary  H.  Wilt,  Mar.  20,  1827. 

Logan,  George  and  Nancy  Huston,  Oct.  4,  1827. 

Lindsay,  William  and  Mary  Forbes,  June  4,  1818. 

Mason,  Thomas  and  Nancy  Kennedy,  Mar.  80,  1802. 

McGuire,  Thomas  and  Rachel  Purdy,  Mar.  1,  1803. 

McKinstry,  Alexander  and  Sarah  McDonald,  Nov.  27, 
1804. 

McElrow,  Hugh  and  Margaret  Duncan,  Apr.  29,  1806. 

Morrow,  James  and  Rachel  Ingram,  Dec.  31,  1807. 

Maxwell,  George  and  Mary  Fulton,  Feb.  2,  1808. 

McCord,  James  and  Susan  Davidson,  Feb.  11,  1808. 

McKinney,  Andrew  and  Sarah  Young,  Mar.  24,  1808. 

INIcElwain,  Robert  and  Jane  Shannon,  Apr.  12,  1808. 

Martin,  John  and  Ann  Montgomery,  A}n\  14,  1808. 

McKeehan,  Samuel  and  Deborah  McBride,  Nov.  3,  1808. 

McWilliams,  John  and  Sarah  Dickson,  Nov.  24,  1808. 

McClelland,  Elias  and  .Mary  McKinney,  Dec.  22,  1808. 

Martin,  John  and  Rebecca  Montgomery,  Jan.  23,  1810. 

McKeehan,  Robert  and  Mary  Trego,  Feb.  23,  1810. 

McFarlane,  Robert  and  Eleanor  Jacob,  Apr.  26,  1803. 

McKeehan,  Samuel  and  Mary  McKeehan,  Mar.  26, 1812. 

Montgomery,  James  and  Margaret  Walker,  Apr.  7,1812. 

Montgomery,  John  and  Jane  Fulton,  Sept.  9,  1812. 

Milroy,  William  Rodman  and  Nanc}^  Kingsborough, 
Oct.  13,  1812. 


PRESBYTERIAN      CHURCH.  85 

McCiilloiigh,  William  and  Mary  McGiiffin,  Nov.  2, 1813. 
JMcCord,  Robert  and  I.acy  Davidson,  Feb.  3,  1814. 
McKibben,  John  and  l8ai)ella  Mitchell,  Mar.  3,  1814. 
Mateer,  Andrew'and  Ann  Huston,  Mar.  24,  1814. 
Martin,  Joshua  and  Eliza  Williamson,  Nov.  9,  1815. 
JSrathers,  Robert  and  Mary  Ingram,  Feb.  1,  1816. 
Mathers,  John  and  Naney  Huston,  Feb.  15,  1816. 
McLane,  William  and  Hannah  McPherson,Feb.29,1816- 
Moore,  John  and  Rachel  McCullougli,  Mar.  11, 1816. 
McFarlane,  Robert  and  Jane  Kilgore,  May  2,  1816. 
jNIacfee,   William   and   Elizabeth  Sensebaugh,  May  27, 

1816. 
Montgomery,  William  and  Sally  Barr,  Nov.  24,  1816. 
McElhenny,  Robert  and  Margaret  Carnahan,  Mar.  28, 

1817. 
McBride,  Robert  and  Jane  Scroggs,  May  15,  1817. 
McDowell,  John  and  Mary  Laird,  Mar.  12,  1818. 
Morrow,  William  and   Catharine  Dougherty,  Mar.  25, 

1819. 
McCord,  James  and  Jane  Sturges,  July  1,  1819. 
Maxwell,  John  and  Jane  Buchanan,  Aug.  12,  1819. 

McDermond,  Joseph  and  Nancy ,  Nov.  30,  1819. 

McKibben,  Chambers  and  Jane  Bell,  Feb.  10,  1820. 
McCullough,  William  and  Jane  JMorrow  (?),  INIar,  2, 1820. 
INIathers,  John  and  INIartha  Peebles,  Mar.  30,  1820. 
McDonald,  John  and  Elizabeth  Moore,  Oct.  5,  1820. 
McKeehan,  Mark  and  Elizabeth  Vanderbilt,Dec.7,1820. 
McDonald,  Daniel  and  Elizabeth  Kennedy, Oct.  18,1821. 
McClelland,  John  and  Eleanor  INIorrow,  Mar.  27,  1821. 
McNeil,  Sanuiel  and  Ann  Irwin,  Feb.  7,  1822. 
McKeehan,  John  and  Tabitha  McBride,  May  7,  1822. 
McFarlane,  James  and   Sarah   Shannon,  ]\Iar.  12,  1822. 


86  THE      BIG      SPRING 


Moore,  John  and  Molly  Wilson,  Mar.  14,  1822. 
McKibben,  Jose^pli  and   Tabitha   McCulloch,  Apr.  11, 

1822. 
McCune,  Thomas  and  Sarah  Fulton,  Oct.  7,  1822. 
Myers,  Jacob  and  Nancy  McBride,  Feb.  27,  1823. 
McCandlish,  John  and  Maria  McCormick,Mar.l3, 1823. 
McClelland,  William  and  Sarah  Wilson,  Mar.  27,  1823. 
McCulloch,  Thomas  and  Isabella  Blean,  Apr.  3,  1823. 
Mitchel,  William  and  Mary  Stephenson,  July  3,  1823. 
McCune,  Joseph  and  Mary  Davidson,  Apr.  27,  1824. 
McCullough,  John  and    Elizabeth  Cowen  (?),  Sept.  28, 

1824. 
McCormick,  Samuel  and  Susanna  Alter,  INIar.  3,  1825. 
McCaleb,  J.  and  Sarah  Uhler,  Mar.  24,  1825. 
McCord,  Robert  and  Margaret  Woodburn,  Oct.  25,1825. 
McCormick,  Thomas  and   Jane  Harper,  Dec.  13,  1825. 
McFarlane,  Alexander  and  Rosanna  jNIcCanon,  July  7, 

1826. 
McFarlane,  Clemens  and  Lydia  Miller,  Mar.  8,  1826. 
Miller,  Samuel  and  Rachel  Thompson,  Jan.  18,  1827. 
McKinstry,  James  and  Margaret  Ha3's,  Dec.  3,  1828. 
McKee,  James  and  Isabella  Fulton,  Jan.  8,  1829. 
Murdock,  John  and  Sarah  Saunders,  Feb.  27,  1834. 
McCachran,  Rev.  Robert  and  Jane  Laughlin,  Nov.  11, 

1834. 
McCulloch,  John  and  Jane  Dunbar,  Aug.  12,  1835. 
Miller,  Thomas  and  Margaret  Meradith,  Nov.  5,  1835. 
Montgomery,  James  Ramsey  and  Nancy  Kilgore,  Nov. 

25,  1823. 
Niven,  John  and  Martha  McCrackon,  INIay  11,  1802. 
Norton,  Thomas  and  Fanny  Gray,  Jan.  28,  1802. 
Niven,  David  and  Marv ,  Feb.  1,  1810. 


PRESBYTEKIAN       CHURCH.  87 


Nelson,  John  and  Elizabeth  Ewing,  Dec.  7,  1815. 
Nisbit,  Fisher  and  J.  Adams,  Mar.  4,  1824. 
Noble,  Daniel  and  Rachel  George,  Mar.  16,  1826. 

Nicklo,  William  and  Catharine ,  Mar.  13,    1827. 

Orr,  John  and  Eleanor  Moore,  Dec.  24,  1807. 
Oliver,  John  and  Susan  Sheldon,  Jan.  19,  1815. 
Oxor,  John  and  Elizabeth  Roberts,  Nov.  4, 1817. 
Oxor,  George  and  Elizabeth  Stewart,  Oct.  7,  1819. 
Patterson,  Samuel  and  INIary  Stuart,  Apr.  1,  1802. 
Patterson,  James  and  Betsy  Williamson,  Apr.  18,   1805. 
Piper,  James  and  Catharine  Irvine,  Mar.  6,  1812. 
Palm,  Adam  and  Nancy  Asken,  Dec.  17,  1813. 
Pierce,  Andrew  and  Rel)ecca  McKibben,  Dec.    3,    1813. 
Patton,  Morgan  and  Elizabeth  Campbell,  Mar.  21,  1822. 
Richy,  James  and  INTary  McElwain,  Feb.  4,  1802. 
Russel,  William  and  Mary  Elliott,  May  31,  1803. 
Rees,  John  and  Margaret  Brown,  Oct.  3,  1805. 
Ripton,  John  and  Isabella  Mathers,  June  18,  1807. 
Ross,  Simon  and  Isabella  Beaty,  Mar.  14,  1810. 
Robertison,  Thomas  and  Elizabeth    Shannon,    June    18, 
1S12. 

Ross,  Joseph  and  Catharine ,  Mar.  25,  1813. 

Reynolds,  David  and  Eleanor  Orr,  Nov.  9,  1813. 
Richie,  William  and  Elizabeth  Gourd,  Dec.  26,  1816. 
R^dston,  David  and  Leacy  McAlister,  Mar.  6,  1821. 
Roberts,  Robert  and  Isal)ella  Grimes,  May  31,  1821. 
Riley,  Jolm  and  Mary  Duffy,  Sept.  1821. 
Randolj)h,  John  and  Mary  Knettle,  Jan.  3,  1822. 
Ripton,  Peter  and  Louisa  Ross,  Apr.  22,  1824. 
Ray,  William  and  Anne  INIcDonald,  Aug.  12,  1824. 
Ross,  John  and  Esther  McWilliams,  Jan.  24,  1825. 
Roberts,  Andrew  and  Catharine  Crotzer,  Mar.  16,  1829. 


88  THE      BIG      SPRING 


Randolph,  Paul  and  Betsy  E.  Leckey,  June  9,  1829. 
Shulenberger,  Henry  and    Betsy    Riglitmier,    Apr.    30, 

1805. 
Stevenson,  James  and  Mary  Morrow,  Oct.  24,  1805. 
Steel,  John  and  Anna  Weaver,  Dec.  4,  1806. 
Stuart,  James  and  Jane  McElwain,  May  29,  1807. 
Scroggs,  Moses  and  Peggy  Tliom])son,  Dee.  10,  1807. 
Stow,  John  and  Mary  A.  Geese,  Nov.  24,  1808.     • 
Scouller,  John  and  Jane  Brown,  Apr.    4,     1809. 
Shannon,  Hugh  and    Ruhanna    McElwain,    Aug.    3, 

1811. 
Spangler,  Sanuiel  and  Rebecca  Eager,  Oct.  15,  1812. 
Shields,  James  and  Nanc}^  Martin,  June  15,  1813. 
Sharp,  John  and  Martha  Huston,  Dec.  13,  1814. 
Sharp,  John  and  Jane  McCune,  Mar.  19,  1815. 

Stevenson, and  Sally  Hays,  Mar.  28,  -181(3. 

Smith,   George   W.    and    Margaret    Weakly,    July    29, 

1817. 
Sharp,  William  and  Jane  Wilson,  June  5,  1821. 
Skiles,  Davis  and  Elizabeth  Moor,  Oct.  18,  1821. 
Skelly,  David  and  Jane  Dougherty,  Mar.  28,  1822. 

Skelly,  Robert  and Wilson,  Dec.  12,  1822. 

Sturm,  David  and  Elizabeth  Wolf,  Feb.  10,  1824. 
Shannon,  James  and  Martha  Matliers,  June  10,  1824. 
Shaw,  John  and  Hetty  Wilt,  Mar.  30,  1826. 
Smitli,  Joseph  and  Eliza  McCormick,  June  28,  1827. 
Smith,  William  and  IMaria  Dougherty,  Jan,  31,  1828. 
Stough,  Samuel  and  Mary  Peeples,  Apr.  15,  1829. 
Smith,  John  and  Jane  Cooper,  June,  23,  1834. 
Snyder,  Jonathan  and  Catharine  Lehmon,  Oct.  2,  1834. 
Stephens,  William  L.  and  Margaret  Elliott,  June  2,1835. 
Sterrett,  Wilson  and  Ezemiah  Hays,  Mar.  1,  1835. 


Communion    Tokens. 


PRESBYTERIAN       CHURCH.  91 


Thompson,  John  and  Elizabeth  King,  Nov.  19,  1807. 
Thompson,  Hugh  and  P]lizabeth  Scroggs,  Jan.  19,  1815. 
Turner,  Jose}))!  and   Rosa  una   Abernethy,  Apr.  4,  1820. 
Underwood,  John  and  Priscilla  Leacock,  Mar.  18,  1824. 
Vandyke,  WiUiam  and  Nancy  Duncan,  Apr.  1,  1813. 
Wih,  John  and  Elizabeth  Ripton,  Dec.  22,  1801. 
AVilson,  Robert  and  Dorcus  Hays,  Mar.  9,  1802. 
Woods,  Matthew  and  Jane  Galbraith,  Dec.  23,  1802. 
Weakley,  Isaac  and  Martha  Brittain,  Mar.  10,  1803. 
Walker,  Robert  and  Jane  Long,  Dec.  25,  1805. 
Wallace,  Samuel  and  Eleanor  Gillespie,  Sept.  15,  1807. 

Williams,  AVilliam  and  Mary ,  Oct.  27,  1809. 

Walker,  Alexander  and  Sarah  Martin,  Mar.  26,  1812. 
Witlirow,  Samuel  and  Mary  Laughlin,  Feb.  16,  1813. 
Walker,  David  and  Maria  Patton,  Dec.  17,  1813. 
Woodburn,  James  and  Eliza  Jacob,  Jan.  20,  1814. 
Withrow,  William  and  Elizabeth  IMcKibben,  Feb.  12, 

1818. 
Wallace,  Thomas  and  ^lary  Harper,  Apr.  7,  1818. 
Weakley,  James  and  p:iiza  Geddes,  Feb.  23,  1819. 

Wigly,  Joseph  and  Elizabeth ,  Aug.  23,  1821. 

AVoodburn,  Skiles  and   Margaret  McKeehan,  Dec.  20, 

1821. 
Wills,  Dr.  David  and  Elizabeth  Peebles,  Feb.  14,  1822. 
Workman,  William   and    Elizabeth    Carothers,  Dec.  5, 

1822. 
Wightman,  William  and  Mary  Dunfee,  Feb.  19,  1824. 
Woodburn,  William  and  Margaret  Geddes,  Jan.  22, 1828. 
AVilliains,  Lewis  H.  and  Tabitha  McKeehan,  Feb.  15, 

1831. 
Wilson,  Rol)ert  and  Martha  J.  Beatty,  Oct.  25,  1832. 
Woodburn,  George  and  Mary  C.  Williams,  Dec.  11,1833. 


92 


THE      BIG      SPRING 


MEMBERS   OF   THE   FEMALE 

Deborah  McKeehan, 
Ann  Brittain, 
Nancy  Laughlin, 
Eliza  Laughlin, 
Eleanor  Davidson, 
Jane  Wilson, 
Elizabeth  Pollock, 
Elizabeth  McKain, 
Mary  Brattan, 
Elizabeth  Atchison, 
Margaret  McK night, 
Jane  McKnight, 
Mary  Davidson, 
Isabel  Johnston, 
Jane  Laughlin, 
Sarah  Leckey, 
Mary  Leckey, 
Ann  Leckey, 
Jemima  Crowell, 
Sarah  Shannon, 
Margaret  Carson, 
Rachel  Crawford, 
Rebecca  McCracken, 
Margaret  Woodburn, 
Martha  Peebles, 
Nancy  Gillespie, 


BIBLE    CLASS,  JUNE  11,   1817. 

Ann  Gillespie, 
Nancy  Graham, 
Mary  JMcKnight, 
Nancy  Buchanan, 
Priscilla  Carson, 
Nancy  Lindsay, 
Alice  Thompson, 
Margaret  McBride, 
Catharine  Dougherty, 
Sarah  Geddes, 
Lucy  Walker, 
Rosanna  Dunbar, 
Eliza  Geddes, 
Eliza  Peebles, 
Jane  G.  Williams, 
Ann  Wallace, 
Keziah  McKibben, 
Margaret  Adams, 
Margaret  McCandlish, 
Jane  McCullough, 
Eleanor  Brattan, 
Mary  Thompson, 
Elizabeth  Piper, 
Priscilla  Leacock, 
Ruth  Roan, 


MEMBERS  OF  THE  MALE  BIBLE  CLASS,  JUNE   11,  1817. 

Paul  Pierce,  Chambers  McKibben, 

Samuel  Lindsay,  William  Barr, 

George  McCarron,  Thompson  Glenn, 


PRESBYTERIAN      CHURCH. 


93 


James  C.  Williams, 
James  Lau<;liliii,  jr., 
Samuel  Davidson, 
John  Shannon, 
William  Crawford, 
Joseph  MeKibben, 
James  Davidsoh, 
Andrew  Pierce, 
William  McCulloch, 
Joseph  Brown, 
Dr.  John  P.  Geddes, 
William  Lindsay, 
John  Mathers, 


Samuel  Culbertson, 
James  Fenton, 
Ezekiel  Kilii;ore, 
John  MeCulloch, 
Ralph  Ewing, 
John  Davidson, 
James  Shannon, 
Rev.  Alexander  Sharp, 
James  Weakley, 
Thomas  Wallace, 
George  W.  Woodburn, 
Andrew  Cooper, 
Samuel  Graham. 


DISTRICTS,  ELDERS,  HEADS    OF    FAMILIES  AND  NUMBER    OF 
PERSONS  IN  EACH  FAMILY  IN  1808. 


William  Stephenson's 
AVilliam  Ste})henson 
Joseph  McElhenny 
William  Brown 
James  Shelly 
John  Martin 
David  Sterrett 
Thomas  Martin, 
James  Stephenson, 
Hugh  McElhenny 
Andrew  McElwain 
Andrew  Patterson 


Thomas  McCormick's  District,  Lower  Mifflin. 
Thomas  McCormick         5,     Mrs.  Mitchel 


District,  Upper  Mifflin. 

6, 

Walter  Bell 

4, 

4, 

John  Gorrel, 

5, 

John  Allen, 

6, 

John  Shannon 

4, 

5, 

John  Morrow 

8, 

5, 

James  INIcElwain 

4, 

Paul  Martin 

6, 

David  INIontgomery 

6, 

^^ 

Robert  Barr, 

4, 

Thomas  Martin, 

8, 

4, 


94                                       THE 

;     EiG 

SPRING 

James  Fenton, 

Nathaniel  Gillespie 

5, 

Henry  Knettle 

4, 

Widow  Walker 

5, 

Widow  McClintock 

6, 

Robei-t  Gillespie 

5, 

John  McFarlane 

5, 

William  Mathews 

2, 

Joseph  McCormick 

7, 

Andrew  Thompson 

8, 

Alexander  Elliott 

7, 

James  Purdy 

4, 

Robert  Fenton, 

James  McFarlane 

5, 

James  Brown's  District,  Newton  Township. 

James  Brown 

7, 

Lewis  Rightmyer 

11, 

James  Beatty 

11, 

Robert  Peebles 

5, 

James  Irvine 

6, 

Cornelius  Vanderbilt 

6, 

Robert  Mickey 

7, 

William  Mathers 

7, 

James  Laird's  District,  North  Frankford. 

James  Laird, 

Widow  Dickson, 

George  Dougherty, 

Robert  Gillespie, 

Thomas  Officer, 

Alexander  Leckey, 

Widow  Gillespie, 

James  Sharp, 

Colonel  Crawford, 

James  Clemmons, 

Thomas  Espy, 

Joseph  Hunter, 

Matthew  Wilson, 

William  Lindsay's 

District,  South  Frankford  and 

part 

of  West  Pennsboro  townshi 

P- 

William  Lindsay 

6, 

James  McFarlane 

12, 

Isaiah  Graham 

7, 

William  Connelly 

3, 

Robert  McFarlane 

2, 

Jared  Graham 

12, 

James  Johnson 

4, 

Thomas  Graliam 

3, 

James  Graham 

Robert  Lindsay 

5, 

Arthur  Graliam 

(3, 

Joseph  Connelly 

3, 

PRESBYTERIAN       CHURCH. 


95 


Alexander    Thompson's 
Lauglilin — Upper  Mifflin  a 

Alexander  Thompson  8, 

Matthew  Thom])son  6, 

Samnel  Morrow  H, 

William  Morrow  8, 

James  Nicholdson  2, 

James  Work  8, 
Mary  JNIcCune, 
John  MeCune, 
James  Mickey, 

Hngli  Thompson  8, 

James  McGuffin  8, 

David  Morrow  9, 

Samuel  Williamson  4, 

Alexander  I^aughlin  8, 


District — Succeeded  Hugh 
nd  North  Newton  Township. 


Robert  INIcCune 
Hugh  McCune, 
Jesse  Kilgore, 
David  IMickey, 
William  Thompson 
John  Cooper 
Robert  Carnahan 
David  Williamson 
John  Laughlin 
Jonathan  Martin 
Samuel  McCune, 
William  Kilgore, 
John  Long 


3, 


12, 
9, 
9, 

12. 
3, 
3, 


2, 


Thomas  Jacob's  District, 
Newville. 

Thomas  Jacob  5 

David  George  2 

Jolm  Fox  4 

WiUiam  Bell  5 

John  Fatton  4 

Jeremiah  McKibben  8 

James  Ross  5 

Thomas  Kennedy  7 

Jolni  Davidson  12 

Adam  Bratton  8 

William  Russel  2 

James  McFarlane  2 

James  Brown  7, 


South  Mifflin  Township  and 

Andrew  Thompson  8, 

Mrs.  Glenn  5, 

William  Walker  7, 

John  Roberts  6, 

John  Michel  4, 

John  Carson  5, 

James  Woodburn  4, 

John  Davidson  7, 

David  Ralston  6, 

Letitia  Wilson  2, 

Stephen  Rhine  2, 

Dr.  John  Geddes  5, 

Thomas  Clark  2, 


96                                       THE 

BIG 

SPRING 

John  Dunbar 

4, 

William  Glenn 

2, 

James  Reed 

4, 

Leonard  Shuman 

6, 

Mr.  Wilson 

3, 

Philip  Murphy 

5, 

John  Walker 

4, 

Rosa  una  McFarlane 

3, 

James  Kirkpatrick 

4, 

Elisha  Carson 

9, 

Gilbert  Moon 

3, 

Atchisons  Laughlin'g 

»  District. 

Atchison  Laughlin 

11, 

Widow  Ripton 

4, 

Samuel  Hays 

3, 

INIatthew  Adams 

3, 

Samuel  Sibbet 

7, 

William  Duncan 

6, 

David  Glenn 

9, 

William  Pipet 

6, 

Samuel  Gourd 

6, 

John  Brown 

5, 

John  Boyd 

6, 

Richard  Adams 

2, 

David  Ralston 

3, 

William  McDannel,Esq 

'7 

Alexander  McBeth 

10, 

Thomas  Adams 

9, 

Jas.  and  Wni.  Laughlin 

7, 

Joseph  Shaw 

3, 

William  Bell 

6, 

Samuel  Mathers 

8, 

Nathaniel  Eccles 

7, 

Joseph  Mathers 

8, 

Robert  McBride 

7, 

Thomas  Johnson 

5, 

John  McKeehan's  Distr 
ship. 

John  McKeehan  5, 
George  McKeehan, 

John  Smith  7, 

Matthew  Davidson  8, 
Lewis   Williams    (Pastor's 

father)  7, 

William  McFarlane  5, 

James  McKeehan  5, 

James  Huston  8, 


ict.  West    Pennsboro  Town- 


William  Miller 
John  Davidson,  Esq. 
Richard  Woods 
Benjamin  McKeehan 
William  Ferguson 
John  Miller 
John  Gray 
Alexander  Weakley 


PRESBYTERIAN      CHURCH. 


97 


Nathan  Ramsey's  District. 
Nathan  Ramsey, 
Thomas  Norton, 
Natlian  Means, 
Jolin  Gray, 
William  Ewing, 
Eliza  Ramsey, 
Sarah  Norton, 
Mrs.  Adams, 
Joseph  Gourd, 
Nathan  Woods, 
Mrs.  Gray, 


Thomas  Adams, 
Mrs.  McKinstry, 
Mrs.  Ewing, 
Margaret'  Ramsey, 
Ann  Patterson, 
James  McKinstry, 
Mrs.  Gourd, 
Jane  Woods, 
Elizabeth  Glenn, 
Alexander  McBride, 


^=C="JIIIB1-C^^ 


98  THE      BIG      SPRING 


THE  PASTORATE  OF  REV.  ROBERT 
McCACHRAN. 

After  the  resignation  of  Dr.  Williams  the  congrega- 
tion became  divided  in  an  attempt  to  call  a  pastor.  A 
portion  favoring  Rev.  John  W.  Nevin,  and  others  Rev. 
John  Kennedy,  who  was  afterwards  professor  of  mathe- 
matics in  Jefferson  College,  Pa.  They  however  finally 
united  on  the  Rev.  Robert  McCacliran,  and  in  the  fall 
of  1830,  sent  a  commissioner  to  prosecute  the  call  before 
the  Presbytery  of  New  Castle,  of  which  he  was  a  mem- 
ber. The  call  w^as  accepted  and  Mr.  McCachran  was  in- 
stalled pastor  April  13, 1831.  The  diligent,  faithful  and 
conscientious  pastoral  work  performed  by  IMr.  McCach- 
ran is  shown  by  the  large  accessions  to  the  church  dur- 
ing his  ministry.  There  were  received  into  its  com- 
munion, five  hundred  and  seventy-five  members.  Four 
hundred  and  eighty-five  of  these  were  received  on  pro- 
fession of  faith  and  ninety  on  certificate.  '""In  the 
years  1832,  1833  and  1834  there  seems  to  have  been 
almost  a  continuous  revival  of  religion  in  the  church,  re- 
sulting during  that  time  in  an  accession  of  over  one 
hundred  and  forty  members  on  confession  of  faith.  As 
an  evidence  of  the  deep  interest  in  spirtual  things  which 
at  that  time  existed,  a  prayer  meeting  was  instituted  and 
sustained  for  a  period,  at  day  light  in  the  morning." 
He  baptized  three  hundred  and  ninety-eight  children, 
and  married  two  hundred  and  eight  couples. 
After  the  first  year  or  two  of  Mr.  McCachran's  ministry, 
the  exclusive  use  of  psalms  in  public  worship  was  aban- 
doned. He  resigned  the  pastoral  charge  of  the  Big 
Spring  Church  October  8,  1851. 

*  Memorial  Presbytery,  Carlisle. 


Rev.     Robert    McCachran. 


rRESBYTKKIAX       ClIUKCH.  99 


.:\FAi;inA(;Ks  r.vTiii;  i;i;n'.  i;()15i;i;t  im'cacuhan. 
Adams,  p]])liri;mi  and  Eli/.alx'tli  Wavy,  Nov.  1(),  1840. 
AllRTt,  John  and  CiitJiarini'  i\Ic-l)annell,  Nov.  12,  1846. 
Bratton,  Georoe  nnd  Jane  Sharp,  Jan.  7,  1882. 
BaiT,  Sanuiel  and  Eliza  McC'une,  Fcl).  5,  18o/). 
Boyd,  James  and  Jane  McCnne,  Dec.  17,  IcSoo. 
Black,  Pliili})  and  JNlaiy  Murray,  June  18,  1837. 
Brown,  Jose])lj  and  jNIary  J.  Davidson,    Feh.    18,    1838. 
Bessor,  William  and  Eliza  Gri]),  Feh.  22,  1841. 
Blankney,  George  and  Margaret  Denny,   Apr,   7,   1842. 
Belt,  Burt  and  Elizabeth  Harris,  Aug.  (3,  184(3. 
Butler,  John  and  Barali  Hart,  Sept.  28,  1847. 
J^lean,  Jesse  and  Agnes  BroAvn. 
Barr,  John  and  Jane  Barr,  Sept.  8,  LSrK). 
Bartnett,  John  M.  and  Lavina  Conner,  May  22,  1857. 
Brown,  Thomas  and  Susanna  Creamer,  Aug.  3,  1854. 
Bush,  John  and  Sarah  J.  McCune,  Nov.  28,  1854. 
Bowers,  John  and  Nancy  Landis,  Feb.  29,  18(30. 
Boyles,  Alexander  and  Jane  Blean,  Sept.  23,  1869. 
Claudy,  George  and  Catherine  Rodgers,  Mar.  26,   1833. 
Connelly,  Joseph  and  Eliza  Connelly,  Jan.  29,  1835. 

Cope,  and  Eliza  Stough,  May  81,  1836. 

Cook,  Fenix  and  Elizabeth  McDannel,  Sept.    21,   1837. 

Casey,  John  and  Martha  Hye,  Mar.  3,  1842. 

Cremer,  Tlieodore  H.  and  Martha  J.  Graham,  June  15, 

1848. 
Cobean,  William  and  IMaiy  .McFarlane,  Nov.  2  1848. 
Carothers,  Andrew  and  Louisa  Bender,  June  28,   1849. 

Grain, and  Sarah  G.  Adams,  April  12,  1857. 

Cochran,  Stephen  and  JNIargaret  Griffin,    Dec.  4,    1857. 
Cooper,  James  and  Eliza  ^Nfon-ow,  Dec.  9,  1857. 
Cole,  Sanuiel  and  Hetty  Johnson,  Mar.  28,  1867. 


100  THE       BIG       SPRING 


Carlisle,  T.  Calvin  and  Kebecca  J.  McCachran,   Mar.  9^ 

1854. 
Duffield,  Kobert  E.  and  MlssTorbet,  June  22,  1837. 
Dunlap,  Daniel  and  Eliza  Heflleman,  Mar.  14,  1838. 
De  Peyster,  Robert   and   Virginia   E.    Bhepherd,    July 

17,  1838. 
Davidson,  William  and  Kosanna   McFarlane,   Sept,    IB, 

1838. 
Dunlap,  William  and  Eliza])eth  Skiles,  Nov.   2(3,    1840. 
Davidson,  John  and  Mary  Randolph,  Jan.  7,  1841. 
Dallas,  William  and  Elizabeth  Boyd,  Mar.  16,  1841. 
Dunfee,  John,  and  Sarah  Talbert,  Sept.  3,  1842. 
Dunlap,  James  and  Lucetta  Hays,  Feb.  26,  1846. 
Davidson  William  and  Hannah  Hoover,  Sept,  17,  1846. 
Ervin,  James  B.    and     Isabella    McEhvain,    Nov.    30, 

1831. 
Elliott,  John  and  Dorothy  Myers,  Sept.  23,  1847. 
Frank,  Henry  and  Eliza  Kellen,  Nov.  15,  1836. 
Filer,  David  and  Sarah  Keller,  Oct.  11,  1838. 
Finkenbinder,  John  and  Jane  Beaston,  Dec.  9,  1841. 
Filer,  David  and  Esther  Smith,  Oct.  24,  1845. 
Frazer,  Wilson  and  Mary  Mechey,  Jan.  6,  1848. 
Gaster,  John  and  Sarah  Jane  Lee,  Dec.  20,  1832. 
Graham,  William  and  Nancy  Davidson,  Jan.  19,  1837. 
Geddes,  Thomas  M.  and  Lacy  McCord,  I\Iar,  16,  1837. 
Gray,  James  and  Mary  A.  McCune,  July  3,  1840. 
Gray,  Thomas  and  Elizabeth  Drudge,  June  3,  1845. 
Goodman,  Alfred  and  Mary  A.  Singleton,  Aug.  12,1847. 

Gayman, and INIercer,  Jan,  1,  1852. 

Garman,  John  and  Emily  McKeehan,  Jan,  19,  1843. 
Hudson,  Jonathan   and  Widow    Thompson,    Jan.    21, 

1836. 


PRESBYTERIAN       CHURCH.  101 


Hood,  John  amlKinih  A.  AYallace,  Nov.  !">,  1841. 
Hac'kett,  Ivobert  and  IVIargaret  Thompson,  Jan.  14,  1843. 
Hume,  William  D.  and  Hetty  McWilliams,  Sept.  12, 

1844. 

Harris, and  Susan  Wilt,  Sept.  4,  1845. 

Holler,  John  and  Sarah  Ramp,  Apr.  19,  1849. 
Hamil,  George  and  Margaret  E.  Johnson,  May  24, 1849. 
Haekett,  Thomas  and  Ruth  E.  Davidson,  July  30,  1850. 
Hefflefinger,  Thomas  and  Martha  McElhenney,  Oct.  19, 

1869.  " 
Irvine,  Dr.  James  R.  and  Sarah  Bella  Davidson,  June 

27,  1839. 
Irvine,  Samuel  and  Isabella  Kilgore,  Mar.  15,  1838. 
Irvine,  Dr.  James  R.  and  Mary  Johnson,  May  17,  1842. 
Irvine,  Dr.  James  R.  and  Jane  Morrow,  Sept.  25,  1849. 
Johnson,  Andrew  and  Eliza  J.  Martin.  Mar.  23,  1831. 
Johnson,  Henry  and  Kate  Hawkins,  Nov.  18,  18G8. 
Kelso,  John  and  Matilda  Fulton,  Nov.  6,  1832. 
Keans,  John  and  Emily  Ramp,  Jan.  29,  1840. 
Koons,  Isaac  and  Harriet  Kilgore,  Jan.  29,  1846. 

Kishler,  Jacob  and Whistler,  Feb.  2,  1847. 

Keeper,  Augustus  A.  and  Margaret  A.  Woods,  Dec.  16, 

1847. 
Keizer,  David  and  Mary  A.  Bender,  Oct.  4,  1849. 
Kelso,  John  and  Mary  Duncan,  Dec.  5,  1850. 

Kelley,  Cornelius  and Brown,  1860. 

Lemon, and Royal,  June,  19,  1836. 

Lindsay,  James  and  Jane  Brown,  Nov.  18,  1840. 
Lindenburg,  Charles  and  Susan  Mauer,  Nov.  30,  1848. 
Landis,  David  and  Mary  A.  Albert,  Apr.  25,  1850. 
Lenny,  William  and  Catharine  Elliott,  May  27, 1857. 


102  THE      BIG       SPRING 

Mullin,  William  and  Eliza  Whitecap,  Feb.  21,  1833. 
McCoy,  Joshua  and  Sarah  McCarroll,  Dec.  6,  1831. 
McElvain,  John  S.  and  Jane  Stej^henson,  Mar.  2,  1833. 
McKibben,  Joseph  and  Mary  McCord,  Sept.  3,  1834. 
McCuUough,  James  and  Margaret  McKeehan,  Jan.  22, 

1835. 
McKeehan,  Joseph  and  Mary  J.  Skiles,  Dec.  1835. 
McGinness,  J.  H.  W.  and  Catharine  A.  Laughlin,  Oct. 

23,  1851. 
Markward,  Isaac  and  Jane  Dougherty,  Feb.  18,  1838. 
McCune,  William  and  Mary  A.  Hays.  Apr.  5,  1838. 
Miller,  Joseph  and  Elizabeth  Thompson,  Mar.  14,  1839. 

Myers,  Jeremiah  and ^McKeehan,  Feb.  23,  1840. 

Moody,  Joseph  and  Ezemiah  Mickey,  Feb.  27,  1840. 
McKeehan,  Robert  and  Rebecca  C.  Skiles,  JNIar.  5, 1840. 
McCullough,  Samuel  and  Mary  J.  McKeehan,  Dec.  24, 

1840. 
McKee,  Alexander  and  Francia  Bowan,  Nov.  15,  1841. 
Middleton,  Andrew  and  Nancy  Elliott,  Jan.  3,  1843. 
McFarlane,  Robert   and   Lydia   B.  McKinney,  Feb.  9, 

1843. 
McLaughlin,  Samuel  and  Maria  Harper,  Feb.  21,  1843. 
McKeehan,    Benjamin    and   Kinkaid,   Jan.   4, 

1844. 
Myers,  Benjamin  and  Eliza  Carothers,  Feb.  10,  1845. 
McCoy,  Daniel  and  Mary  E.  McElvain,  Sept.  4,  1845. 
INIcCandlish,  Thomas  and  Mary  W.  Coyle,  Dec.  25, 1845. 
McDannel,  William  and  INIary  Martin,  Jan.  8,  1846. 
McCullough,  W.  Linn,  and  Ann    E.  Glenn,  Nov.  11, 

1846. 
McLaughlin,  William  and   Eliza   A.   Moore,  Jan.   21, 

1847. 


PRESBYTERIAN       CHURCH.  103 


Montgomery,  Robert  ami  Rachel  Thompson,  Jan.  28, 

1847. 
IMcCnllouo-h,  James  and  INlartha  Brown,  Feb.  4,  1847. 
Myers,  Henry  and  IMary  A.  Ram]i,  Fel).  17,  1848. 
Matthews,  Edward  and  Velotta  Bnsh,  Apr.  18,  1848. 
McKinney,  Thomas  and  Jane  Rachel  Glenn,  May  11, 

1848. 
McCnllono-h,  William   H.  and  Sarah  Mickey,  Jan.  18, 

1840. 

IMiller, and  Elizabeth  Walker,  Oct,  14,  1850. 

McCnllongh,  T.  Henderson  and  Rebecca  Herron,    Feb. 

13,  1851. 
McCnllough,  Robert  and  Jane  Dnncan,  Mar.  25,  1852. 
^[cCune,  S.  Elder  and  Margaret  J.  Langhlin,  Nov.   17, 

1859. 
Mart,  Alexander  G.  and  Sarah  J.  Miller. 
McCachran,  Robert   and    JNIattie   McCandlisli,  Dec.  16, 

1874. 

Nettle.  George  and Stewart,  Jan.  27,  1835. 

North,  Andrew  and  Margaret  Myers,  Jan.  28,  1841. 
Nave,  George  and  Barbara  French,  June  17,  1841. 
Noftsker,  George  W.  and  Susan  Green,  Jan.  25,  1848. 
Oliver,  James  and  Mary  McCachran,  May  15,  1872. 
Patterson,  James  and  Eliza  Montgomery,  Jan.  10,  1839. 
Pilgrim,  Henry  and  Maria  Miller,  June  13,  1850. 

Patterson, and  Margaret  ^lartin,  Oct.  14,  1850. 

Peters,  John  and  Alice  Baxter,  Sept.  10,  1802. 
Richards,  Robert  and  Susan  Spear,  Jan.  29,  1834. 
Russel,  Fauster  and  Mary  Mateer,  Feb.  12,  1835. 
Reed,  David  L.  and  Mary  Fitzsinnnons,  Apr.  5,  1836. 
Reed,  James  and  p:iizabeth  Elliott,  Mar.  20,  1857. 
Richardson,  James  and  Isabella  Vanlever,  Apr.  15, 1866. 


104  THE      BIG      SPRING 

Richardson,  William  and  Ann  Wilson,  Sept.  23,  1869. 
Steel,  James  and  Mary  McElvain,  Mar.  15,  1831. 
Shaw,  James  and  Catharine  Goodhart,  Mar.  13,  1834. 
Stoneberger,  William  and  Josephine  Roberts,  Dec.  12, 

1835. 

Stewart,  Mitchel  and Miller,  June  23,  1836. 

Sailor,  Isaac  and  Lucetta  Rutgers,  Jan.  24,  1839. 

Smith,  John  and Brown,  Oct.,  1840. 

Scouller,  William  and  Eleanor  Jacob,  Nov.  26,  1840. 
Straw,  William  and  Catharine  Albert,  Jan.  7,  1841. 
Snodgrass.  William  and  Nancy  Fulwiler,  Jan.  16,  1844. 
Sharp,  Samuel  and  Eliza  A,  McKeehan,  Mar.  5,  1844. 
Snodgrass,  Benjamin    and   Nancy  Buchanan,  Mar.  26, 

1844. 
Steel,  Robert  and  Mary  IMcCandlish,  Nov.  26,  1844. 

Stevick,  Jacob  and Snoke,  Aug.  12,  1847. 

Shover,  B.  and  McDonnel,  Sept.  23,  1847. 

Sanders,  William  nnd  Eliza  Layburn,  Dec.  16,  1847. 
Snyder,  Jacob  and  Hannah  M.  Randolph,  Sept.  9, 1850. 
Stickfield,  Michael  and  Dolly  Wilkison,  Nov.  24,  1833. 
Spree,  John  and  M.  A.  Runsher,  Feb.  29,  1860. 
Sprigs,  David  and  Margaret  A. W.Baxter, Sept.  10,1862. 
Stanton,  William  and  Annie  Kennedy,  Mar.  8,  1866. 
ShuUenberger,  Adam  and  Adaza  Hefflefinger,  Nov.  25, 

1869. 
Treat,  William  and  Wilhemina  Rudgers,  Apr.  16,  1833. 
Thompson,  John  and  Sarah  Peebles,  Mar.  26,  1835. 
Thompson,  James  and  Isabella  Kilgore,  Nov.  19,  1835. 
Thompson,  Matthew  and  Elizabeth  Jacob,  Sept.  1, 1836. 
Thompson,  Hugh  and  Jane  Kennedy,  Apr.  1,  1841. 
Tritt,  Samuel  and  Julia  Heagy,  Oct.  17,  1844. 
Torbet,  Robert  and  Mary  Mitten,  Nov.  30,  1848. 


PRESBYTERIAN       CHURCH.  105 


Topley,  Al)sal()iii  II.  ;iiul  Sai-jih  K.  CJ;inliU'r,Feb.  15, 1852. 
Trego,  Jnnics  S.  and  l.i/zit'  1{.  Naolc,  Mar.  25,  187o. 
Thoiiipsoii,  C1iai-lt's  and  Savilla  Jolin.soii. 
Woodrow,  Enoch  and  Jane  Vanderbilt,  July  ol,  1831. 
AVilson,  Irving  and  Ann  Weaver,  Aug.  7,  18o2. 
AYeaver,  John  H.  and  Lacy  MeCord,  Mar.  (>,  18o;3. 
AVallace,  Thomas  and  Mrs.  Wilson,  Feb.  13,  1834. 
Watson,  George  and  Mrs.  Eliza  J.  Johnson,  July  24, 

1834. 
Weidner,  James  and  Elizabeth  Spear,  May  20,  1836. 
AYoodburn,  James  and  Jane  Johnson,  Jan.  10,  1837. 

Whistler,  Christopher  and Filer,  June  7,  1838. 

Wolir,  George  and  Eliza  Harper,  Dee.  27,  1838. 
White,  Robert  and  Jane  Ferguson.  Feb.  18,  1841. 

Wise,  Michael  and Donnelly,  Sept.  9,  1841. 

Williams,  Joseph    C.  and  Sarah  J.  McKeehan,  Jan.  12, 

1843. 
Wilson,  Jose})h  and  Esther  Butler,  Nov.  20,  1845. 
Woodburn,  Benjamin  and  Elizabeth  A.  Brown,  Jan.  1, 

184H. 
Welcome,  David  and  INIargaret  Elliott,  Sept.  23,  1847. 
Woods,  John  and  Rachel  Layburn,  Nov.  22,  1841). 
AVhisler,  Elijah  and  Mary  Nyas,  Jan.  10,  18-50. 
Watson,  Christian  and  Elizabeth  Duify,  Aug.  27,  1850. 
Woodburn,  John  and  Lucinda  Stewart,  Feb.    26,    1859. 
Zeigler,  John  and  Jane  Russell,  Nov.  28,  1833. 
Zug,  John  and  Margaretta  A.  Hood,  July  28,  1841. 


BATTISJIS  J5Y  KKV.  ROBERT  M  CACHRAN. 

Atchison,  Andrew  Mitcliel,  son  of  William   and  Nancy, 

Aug.  30,  183(). 
Alexander,  William,  son  of  William    and    Anna,   July 


106  THE      BIG       8PRING 

23,1832. 
Adams,  Margaret  J.,  daughter  of  Robert,  May  10,  1834. 
Adams,  Jemima,  daughter  of  Robert,  July  30,  1836. 
Adams,  Susanna,  daughter  of  Robert,  Aug.  9,  1839. 
Allen,  Jesse  K.,  son  of  James  and  Jane,  Get.  30,    1841. 
Adams,  Martha  S.,  daughter  of  Ephriam  and  Elizabeth, 

Barr,  Aug.  7,  1842. 
Adams,  Rebecca  E.,  daughter  of  Robert,  Oct.  13,   1842. 
Adams  Margaret  Clark,  daughter  of  Ephriam  and  Eliz- 
abeth, May  4,  1844. 
Brown,  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  William  and  Jane,  Aug. 

14,  1831. 
Brown,  Margaretta,  daughter  of  Joseph,  Apr.  13,    1832. 
*Brown,  Elizabeth  J.,  daughter  of  John,  Oct.  21,   1832. 
*Brown,  Agnes  R.,  daughter  of  John,  Oct.  21,  1832. 
Bales,  Thomas  J.,  son  of  Eliza,  Nov.  25,  1832. 
Barr  Mary  A.,  daughter  of  Hugh,  May  11,  1833. 
Bales,  Jane  McFarlane,    daughter   of    Eliza.    Nov.    25, 

1832. 
Bro"wn,  Joseph   Tliom])son,    son    of    William,   July    7, 

1833. 
Brattan,  James  Sharp,  son  of  George,  INlar.  10,  1834. 
Brow^n,  Sarah  I.,  daughter  of  Joseph,  Sept.  7,  1834. 
Barr,  Robert  Lusk,  son  of  Hugh,  June  10,  1835. 
Barr,  Alexander,  son  of    William    and   Sarah,    Dec.    5, 

1835. 
Barr,  John  Geddes,  son  of  William  and  Sarah,   Dec.    5, 

1835. 
Barr   Margaret   L.,    daughter   of   William   and    Sarah, 

Dec.  5,  '1835. 
Brown  Caroline,  daughter  of  Joseph,  May  15,  1836. 

*Twins. 


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PRESBYTERIAN       CHURCH,  109 


BniT,  J.  W.,  son  of  Willinni,  (apothecary)  July  8,  1838. 
BroAvn,  iSliiry  J.,  (ljiii<;litcr  of  Willisnu,  Aug.  24,  1838. 
Ijiut,  Esther  Thoiiipsoii,  (laughter  of  Hugh  aiul  Martha, 

Dee.  18,  1838. 
Brown,  Andrew  MeElwain,  sou  of  William,  July  11,1841. 
Boyd,  Rebecca,  daughtei-  of  James   and  Jane,  Nov.  11, 

i842. 
Brown,  Banuiel  A.,  son  of  John  and  Lacy,  Aug.  (),  1843. 
r,arr,  Hugh  A.,  son  of  Hugh  and  Martha,  Oct.  20,  1843. 
j>est,  Frances,  daughter  of  Henry,  May  4,  1844. 
]>rown,  John  C,  son  of  William,  June  23,  1844. 
Brown,  Ellen  D.,  daughter  of  Lacy,  Aug.  10,  1844. 
Best,  Richard,  son  of  Henry,  Nov.  8.  1844. 
Best,  Robert,  son  of  Henry,  Aug.  8,  1846. 
Best,  Sarah  E.,  daughter  of  Henry,  May  12,  1849. 
Best,  James,  son  of  Henry  and  Catharine,  Nov.  8,  1850. 
Coyle, William  H.,son  of  Scott  and  Nancy,  Sept.  13, 1834. 
Coyle,  Robert  Elliott,  son  of  Andrew  and  Eliza,  Dec. 

22,  1833. 
Carnahan,  John  McD.,  son  of  William,  INFar.  29,  1835. 
Coyle,  Samuel  McCord,  son  of  John  and  Eliza,  Sept.  6, 
"1835. 
Coyle,  Martha  Linn,  daughter  of  Scott  and  Nancy,  May 

1,  1836. 
Claudy,  William  B.,  son  of  George  and  Catharine,  May 

15,  1836. 
Coyle,  David  Linn,  son  of  Andrew  and  Eliza,  Dec.  31, 

1837. 
Claudy,  Samuel  R.,  son  of  George  and  Catharine,  Jan. 

20,  1838. 
Cook,  Hannah  E.,  June  12,  1842.. 
Cook,  Alfred  Dewey,  son  of  Samuel,  Nov.  11,  1842. 


110  THE      BIG       SPRING 

Cook,  Caroline,  daughter  ol  Samuel  and  Jane,  Nov.  11, 

1842. 
Claudy,  Margaret  E.,  daughter  of  George  and  Catharine, 

Jan.  19,  1845. 
Cook,  George  Grove,  son  of  Felix  and  Elizabeth,  Aug. 

23,  1846. 
Davidson,  Alex.  Leckey,  son  of  Samuel  and  Catharine, 

Mar.  25,  1832. 
Davidson,  Sarah  E.,  daughter  of  John,  June  10,  1832. 
Duncan,  James  Mitchel,  son  of  John  and  Harriet,  June 

30,  1833. 
Davidson,  James  Wilson,  son  of  John  and  Eliza,  Apr. 

20,  1834. 
Davidson,  Isabella    A.,   daughter  of  Matthew,  Apr.  23, 

1834. 
Davidson,  John  Blair,  son  of  Samuel,  July  29,  1834. 
Davidson,  Rebecca  E.,  daughter  of  Alex,  and  Jane,  Nov. 

22,  1834. 
Davidson,  Nancy  E.,  daughter  of  John  and  Eliza,  May 

7,  1837. 
Davidson,  Marjory  T.,  daughter  of  John  and  Eleanor, 

Apr.  27,  1838.  * 
Davidson,  Elizabeth  A.,  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Catha- 
rine, May  19,  1839. 
Davidson,  John  Young,  son  of  William  and  Rosanna, 

Nov.  1,  1839. 
Dunlap,  William,  son  of  Daniel  and  Eliza,  Nov.  1,  1839. 
Davidson,  Robert  McFarlane,  son  of  William  and  Ro- 
sanna, Aug.  6,  1843. 
Dunfee,  John  T.,  son  of  John  and  Sarah,  Aug.  10, 1844, 
Davidson,  Mary  Jane,  daughter  of  John  and  IMar^^,  JNIay 

10,  1845. 


PRESBYTERIAN      CHURCH.  Ill 


Davidson,   Ellen   Jacol),  (l;iui;iitt'r  of  William  and    Ro- 
sa nna,  flune  7,  1(S4(). 
Davidson,  Arabella,  dauiihter  of  (leorjie  G.  and  Jane, 

June  7,  184('). 
Dunfee,  Marv  E.,  daughter  of  John   and  Sarah,  Feb.  5, 

1847. 
Dunla]),  Addella,  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Frances,  June 

1(),  1847. 
Dunlap,  Mary,  daughter  of  Daniel   and   Frances,  June 

1(3,  1847. 
Dunla]),  Virginia,  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Frances,  June 

1(),  1847. 
Davidson,  George  E.,son  of  George  and  Jane,  Nov.  12, 

1847. 
Davidson,  Samuel  Rankin,  son  of  William,  Nov.  3, 1849. 
Dunlap,  Anna,  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Frances,  Feb.  3, 

1850. 
Dunfee,  John  Rankin,  son  of  John  and  Sarah,  Nov.  8, 

1849. 
Davidson,  Sarah  E.,  daughter  of  William,  Ma}^  9,  1851. 
Davidson,  John   H.,  son  of  George  and  Jane,  Sept.  21, 

1851. 
Ege,  Mary  A.,  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Jane,  Aug.  25, 

'l835. 
Ege,  Frances  Hopkins,  daughter  of  Jose})h  and   Jane, 

May,  24,  1850. 
Ege,  Mary  E.,  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Jane,  May  24, 

1850. 
Fulton,  Sarah,  daughter  of  James,  Oct.  7,  1832. 
Fulton,  Francis,  son  of  James,  Mar.  29,  1835. 
Fulton,  Elizabeth  J.,   daughter  of  Houston  and   Jane, 

Apr.  IG,  1836. 


112  THE      BIG       SPRING 


Fulton,  David   Blean,  son  of  James  and  Grizzelda,  Oct. 

3,  1836. 
Fulton,  Samuel  H.,  son  of  Houston  and  Sarah,  Oct.  14, 

1837. 
Fulton,  Mary  E.,  daughter  of  Houston  and  Sarah,  Apr, 

24,  1841. 
Fulton,  Martha,  daughter  of  James,  Aug.  7,  1842. 
Ferguson,  David   Morrow,  son   of  William  and  Mary, 

July  20,  1845. 
Fulton,  James,  son  of  James,  .Aug.  8,  1846. 
Ferguson,  Mary  J.,  daughter  of  William  and  Mary,  Sept. 

6,  1845. 
Fosnot,  John  C,  son  of  Jacob,  Feb.  16,  1832. 
Glenn,  Atchison  L.,  son  of  Alexander  and  Maria,  1831. 
Givler,  Martha  J.,  daughter  of  Benjamin   and  Isabella, 

Apr.  1,  1832. 
Givler,  Thomas  McFarlane,  son  of  Benjamin  and  Isa- 
bella, Apr.  1,  1832. 
Geddes,  William  M.,  son  of  Dr.  John  P.  and  Catharine, 

July  2,  1832. 
Gaster,  John  Henderson,  son  of  James  and  Sarah,  June 

1,  1834. 
Geddes,  Charles  King,  son  of  Dr.  John  P.  and   Cath- 
arine, Apr.  16,  1836. 
Gillespie,  James  Stewart,  son  of  Samuel,  May  14,  1837. 
Geddes,  Williamson  Niven,  son  of  Dr.  John  P.,  Aug. 

9,  1837. 
Gillespie,  Alfred  Ewing,  son  of  Samuel,  Nov.  1,  1839. 
Graham,  John   Davidson,  son  of  William  and  Nancy, 

Aug,  8,  1840. 
Gilmore,  David  McKinney,  son  of  James  and  Eleanor, 

Aug.  16,  1840. 


PRESBYTERIAN      CHURCH.  118 


Gillespie,  Sarah    T.,  daughter  of   George  and  Lucinda, 

Apr.  22,  1842. 
Graham,  James  MeFarlaiK",  son  of  William  and  Nancy, 

Aug.  14,  1842. 
Gillespie,  Thomas  G.,  son  of  George  and  Lueinda,  May 

12,  1843. 
Gillesjiie,  Sarah  E.,  daughter  of  Samuel,  July,  16,  1843. 
Green,  IMatilda  I.,  daughter  of  Sanuiel  and  Mary,  Feb. 

8,  1844. 
Gilmore,  Nancy  Jane,  daughter  of  James  and  Eleanor, 

June  23,  1844. 
Graham,  William  Finley,  son  of  William   and   Nancy, 

July  21,  1844. 
Green,  Barbara  I.,  daughter  of  Sanuiel  and  Mary,  May 

17,  1846. 
Gillespie,  John  A.,  son  of  Samuel,  May  24,  1846. 
Gillespie,  Albert  Stewart,  son  of  George  and  Lucinda, 

Nov.  8,  1846. 
Gilmore,  Lydia  B.,  daughter  of  James  and  Eleanor,  Nov. 

8,  1846. 

Graham,  Arthur,  son  of  William   and    Nancy,  Oct.  10, 

1847. 
Green,  Joseph  E.,  son  of  Samuel  and  Mary,  May  27, 

1848. 
Glenn,  Anna  M.,  daughter  of  William  M.  and  Mary, 

Aug.  19,  1848. 
Gillespie,  Elizabeth  J.,  daughter  of  George  and  Lucinda, 

May  11,  1849. 
Gillespie,  Samuel  S.,  son  of  George  and  lAicinda,  Nov- 

3,  1849. 
Glenn,  Robert  E.,  son  of  William  M.  and  Mary,  Aug. 

9,  1850. 


114  THE      BIG       SPRING 

Graham,  Alfred  Mateer,  8on  of  AVilliam    and    Nancy, 

Sept.  8,  1850. 
Green,  John  C,  son  of  Samuel  and  Mary,  Apr.  1,  1851. 
Green,  Mary  G.,  danghter  of  Samuel  and  IMary,  Apr.  1, 

1851. 
Harlan,  Mary  C,  Aug.  14,  18ol. 
Harper,  Sarah  A.,  Sept.  24,  1831. 
Hood,  Jane  S.,  Nov.  13,  1831. 
Herron,  Margaret  Davidson,  daughter  of  James,  Jan.  15, 

1832. 
Harlan,  Jacob  W.,  Mar.  7,  1832. 
Harlan,  Catharine,  Mar.  7,  1832. 
Harlan,  Samuel  A.,  Mar.  7,  1832. 
Herron,  Mary,  E.,  daughter  of  James,  Aug.  25,  1833. 
Harlan,  Eliza  J.,  Sept.  9,  1833. 

Harlan,  Caroline,  daughter  of  George,  Nov.  10,  1833. 
Harper,  Margaret,  daughter  of  William,  July  12,  1835. 
Harlan,  Jane  E.,  daughter  of  George,  Aug.  25,  1835. 
Herron,  James  Johnson,  son  of  James,  July  30,  1836. 
Herron,  William,  son  of  James,  Se])t.  3,  1838. 
Hudson,  Martha  E.,  daughter  of  Jonathan,  Aug.  24, 1838. 
Hays,  John   Sharp,  son  of  Robert  and    Hannah,  ]\Iay 

13,  1843. 
Hackett,  Ross,  son  of  Robert  and   ISIargaret,  Aug.  17, 

1845. 
Hood,  John  Wallace,  son  of  John   and  Sarah,  May  18, 

1846. 
Humes,  Emma    M.,  daughter  of  William    and    Hetty, 

Aug.  8,  1846. 
Hays,  Edwin  R.,  son  of  Robert  and  Hannah,  Nov.  7, 1846. 
Hackett,  Mary  E.,  daughter  of  Robert  and   Mary,  Aug. 

7,  1847. 


PRESBYTERIAN      CHURCH.  115 


lluiiR',  James   J)avid80ii,  son    of  William    and    Hetty, 

An--.  It),  lcS48. 
Hood,  Margaret  Harpei',  dangliter  of  Jolm  and  Harah, 

Aug.  8,  1849. 
Huston,  John  1).  Line,  son  of  James,  Aug.  o,  1849. 
Hume,  Jolm  JNIcWilliams,  son  of  William  and   Hetty, 

Aug.  9,  1851. 
Hood,  Walter  L.,  son  of  John  and  Sarah,  Sept.  21,  1851. 
Irvine,  James  B.,  son  of  James  and  Isahella,  July  7, 

1833. 
Irvine,  James  Davidson,  son  of  Dr.  James  R.  and  Sarah, 

]Mar.  18,  1840. 
Irvine,  Susan  M.  S.,  daughter  of  Sanuiel  and   Margaret, 

May  24,  1848.     ' 
Jacob,  Joseph  A.,  son  of  Joseph,  Sept.  24,  1831. 
Johnson,  John  Bell,  son  of  William  B.  and  Ann,  Aug. 

25,  1839. 
Johnson,  Robert  G.,  son  of  William  B.  and  Ann,  May 

12,  1843. 
Johnson,  William  Houston,  son  of  William  B.  and  Ann, 

Feb.  5,  1847. 
Koons,  Thomas,  son  of  Isaac  and  Jane,  Apr.  13,  1832. 
Kelley,  Mary  A.,  daughter  of  Jane,  Aug.  29,  1832. 
Kelley,  Alexander,  son  of  Jane,  Aug.  29,  1832. 
Kelley,  Emaline,  daughter  of  Jane,  Aug.  29,  1832. 
Kelley,  William,  son  of  Jane,  Aug.  29,  1832. 
Kelley,  Sarah  J.,  daughter  of  Jane,  Aug.  29,  1832. 
Ker,  David  Sterrett,  son  of  William  and  Eliza,  Oct.   21, 

1832. 
Kennedy,  Alexander   Barr,  son  of  James    and    Maria, 

Dec.  10,  1832. 
Kennedy,  Thomas,  son  of  James  and  Maria,  Dec.  16,1832. 


116  THE      BIG       HPRTNG 

Kennedy,  Robert,  son  of  James  and  Maria,  Dec.  16, 1832. 
Kelley,  Ann  G.,  daughter  of  Grizelda,  Aug.  2,  1833. 
Kelley,  Samuel  Kennedy,  son  of  Jane,  Sept.  28, 1834. 
Ker,  Elizabeth  J.,  daughter  of  William  and  Eliza,    July 

12,  1835. 
Kennedy,  John,  son  of  James  and  Maria,  Aug.  2,  1835. 
Kilgore,  Nancy  J.,  daughter  of  Ezekiel  and  Elizabeth, 

Aug.  25,  1835. 
Kilgore,  Ezekiel  J.,  son  of  Ezekiel  and  Elizaheth,  Aug. 

25,  1835. 
Kilgore,  William  M.,  son  of  Ezekiel  and  Elizabeth,  Aug. 

25,  1835. 
Kelso,  Mary  E.,  daughter  of  John  and  Matilda,  Jan.  31, 

1836. 
Koons,  James,  son  of  Isaac,  Apr.  16,  1830. 
Kelley,  Margaret,  daughter  of  Jane,  Apr.  16,  1836. 
Kennedy,  Margaret,  daughter  of  James  and  Maria,  Aug. 

18,  1837. 
Ker,  Mary  I.,  daughter  of   William  and  Eliza,  May  20, 

1838.  " 
Kelley,  John  A.,  son  of  Jane,  July  15,  1838. 
Koons,  Joseph,  son  of  Isaac,  Sept.  3,  1838. 
Kilgore,  INlary  E.,  daughter  of  Jesse  and  IMary,  Dec.  25, 

1838. 
Kinsley,  George,  son  of  Jacob  and  Charlotte,  Jan.  15, 

1839. 
Kiasley,  John  R.,  son  of  Jacob  and  Charlotte,  Jan.  15, 

1839. 
Kennedy,  James  JMcFarlane,  son  of  James  and  Maria, 

Apr.  11,  1841. 
Knettle,  Hannah  M.,  daughter  of  George,  Oct.  30, 1841. 
Kelley,  Margaret,  daughter  of  Grizelda,  Sept.  18,  1842. 


PRESBYTERIAN      CHURCH.  117 


Kelley,  George  8.,  son  of  Grizelda,  Sept.  18,  1842. 
Knettle,  J;unes  H.,  son  of  George,  May  12,  184o. 
Kennedy,  William  L.,  son  of  James  and  INfaria,  May  13, 

1848.' 
Kennedy,  John  G.,  son   of  rlames  and   Maria,  May  10, 

1845. 
Kennedy,  JNIary  Barr,  daughter  of  James    and    Maria, 

Jnly  25,  1847. 
Knettle,  Lauretta,  daughter  of  George,  June  11,  1848. 
Knettle,  Jane  E.,  daughter  of  George,  July  14,  1851. 
Lee,  Sanuiel,  Sept.  24,  1881. 
Lindsey,  Joseph  H.,  Sept.  24,' 1881. 
Lefevre,  Kitty  A.,  May  10,  1884. 
Lefevre,  Isaac  Lawrence,  INIay  10,  1834. 
Lefevre,  Mary  E.,  May  10,  1884. 
Lefevre,  Peter  Wilt,  son   of  David  and  Mary  A.,  Mar. 

29,  1885. 
Lytle,  Annie  M.,  daughter  of  William,  June  18,  1847. 
Lyttle,  Sarah  E.,  daughter  of  William,  June  18,  1847. 
McKeehan,  Mary,  daughter  ot  John  and  Eleanor,  Apr. 

24,  1881. 
McKeehan,  Mar}'^,  daughter  of  Benjamin,  Apr.  24,  1831. 
McFarlane,  Daniel  Ligget,  1881. 
McCune,  Sarah  ,).,  daughter  of  John  and  Mary  A.,  Apr. 

1,1882. 
McKeehan,  jNIargaret,   daughter  of  John  and  Eleanor, 

Aug.  26,  1882. 
McElvain,  James  R.,  son  of  James,  Sept.  8,  1882. 
Mathers,  Susan,  daughter  of  Thomas,  Se])t.  8,  1882. 
Moore,  Martha,  daughter  of  Mary,  Sej^t.  15,  1882. 
Martin,  Sarah  E.,  daughter  of  John,  Sept.  15,  1832. 
McFarlane,  Martha  E.,  May  2,  1838, 


118  THE      BIG       SPKING 

McFarlane,  Margaret,  May  2, 1833. 

McElhenny,  Margaret  J.,  daughter  of  James,  June  23, 

1833. 
McElvain,  Robert  McCacliran,soii  of  Robert,  July  7,1833. 
McElvaiu,  Elleu,  daughter   of  William   and   Susanna, 

May  11,  1833. 
McGaw,  Sarah  M.,  daughter  of  Samuel  and    Elizabeth, 

July  24,  1833. 
McGaw,  James,  son  of  Samuel  and  Eliziibetli,  July  24, 

1833. 
McGaw,  Isal)ella,  daughter   of   Samuel   and    Elizabeth, 

July  24,  1833. 
McFarlane,  Jane  S.,  Sept.  7,  1833. 
Mc Williams,  John,  son  of  John  and  Sarah,  Feb.  9, 1834. 
McGaw,  Jane  E.,  daughter  of  Elizabeth,  May  10,  1834. 
Mickey,  Hays,  son  of  Lucetta,  May  10,  1834. 
McKeehan,  David,  son  of  John   and   Eleanor,  May  10, 

1834. 
Miller,  Mary,  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Rachel,  July  (>, 

1834. 
McCune,  Margaretta,   daughter  of  John  and   Mary  A., 

Sept.  12,  1834. 
McFarlane,  Robert,  daughter  of  Clemens   and    Lydia, 

Sept.  13,  1834. 
McFarlane,  Jane  M.,  daughter  of  Clemens    and  Lydia, 

Sept.  13,  1834. 
McBride,  David,  son  of  Andrew  and  Hannah,  Sept.  15, 

1834. 
McCune,  Ellen,  Culbertson,  daughter  of  Hugh,  Mar.  29, 

1835. 
McElhenny,  James,  son  of  James  and  Eliz{il)eth,  Mar. 

29,  1835. 


PRESBYTERIAN      CHURCH.  119 


IMilk'r,  Lewis,  hoii  of  Joseph,  Aii<i;.  oO,  1885. 
MeCncliran,  Robert,  son  of  Rev.  Rolu'it  aiul  Jane,  Apr. 

1(),  183(). 
Melveelian,  Beiijaiiiiii,  son   of  John  and   Eleanor,  Dec. 

11,  1886. 
JNIcCune,  Rebecca,  daughter  of  Hugh,  Dec.  27,  1836. 
IMcKibben,  Susan  M.,  daughter  of  Jose])h  and    Nancy, 

Jan.  28,  1887. 
McCachraii,  j\Iary  C,  daughter  of  Rev.  Robert,  Aug.  20, 

1837. 
McKeehan,   iNlary  C,  daughter  of  Joseph   and    Mary, 

Aug.  21,  1887^ 
Michels,  James,  son  of  Jane,  Feb.  6,  1888. 
Micliels,  Samuel,  son  of  Jane,  Feb.  6,  1838. 
Michels,  William,  son  of  Jane,  Feb.  (),  1838. 
McGaw,  Scott,  son  of  Samuel    and    Elizabeth,  Feb.  6, 

1888. 
McGaw,  Mary,  daughter  of  Samuel  and   Elizabeth,  Feb. 

6,  1888. 
McElhenny,  Robert,  son  of  James  and  Elizabeth,  Aug. 

11,  1888. 
McCune,  Ezemiah,  daughter   of  William  and   Mary  A., 

Aug.  9,  1839. 
Mickey,  Margaret  E.,  daughter  of  Benjamin  and  Eliza, 

Aug.  9,  1839. 
McKeehan,  John,  son  of  John    and    Eleanor,  Oct.  20, 

1889. 
McCune,  Ann  M.,  daughter  of  Hugh  B.,  July  12,  1840. 
Morrow,  Jane,  daughter  of  John  S.  and  Rachel,  Dec.  11, 

1840. 
Morrow,  William  Stevenson,  son  of  John  S.  aud  Rachel, 

Dec.  11,  1840. 


120  THE      BIG      SPRING 

Morrow,  Eliza,  daughter  of  John  S.  and  Rachel,  Bee.  11, 

1840. 
Morrow,  Rachel,  daughter  of  John  S.  and  Rachel,  Dec. 

11,  1840. 
Morrow,  John  Benton,  son  of  John  B.  and  Rachel,  Dec. 

11,  1840. 
Mickey,  Rebecca  8.,  daughter  of  Benjamin  and   Eliza, 

Aug.  18,  1841. 
McCune,  Hannah  M.,  daughter  of  AVilliam  and  Mary  A., 

Oct.  30,  1841. 
McKeehan,  Albert,  son  of  John  and  Eleanor,  Apr.  22, 

1842. 
McKeehan,  Rebecca  J.,  daughter  of  Joseph  and    Mary 

J.,  Apr.  2o,  1842. 
McCune,  Samuel,  son  of  Hugh,  July  31,  1842. 
McKeehan,  Jane  M.,  daughter  of  Robert  and  Caroline, 

Apr.  25,  1842. 
McGaw%  John,  son  of  Samuel    and    Elizal)eth,  Oct.  13, 

1842. 
McGaw,  George  W.,  son  of  Samuel  and  Elizabeth,  Oct. 

13,  1842. 
McLaughlin,  Margaret  A.,  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Ma- 
ria, May  4,  1844. 
McFarlane,  Jane  E.,  daughter  of  Robert  and  I^ydia  B., 

June,  23,  1844. 
McKeehan,  Ellen,  daughter  of  John  and  Eleanor,  Aug. 

10,  1844. 
MorroAv,  Emma,  daughter  of  John  S,  and  Rachel,  Aug. 

10,  1844. 
McCune,  William  A.,  son  of  Hugh,  Nov.  20,  1844. 
Mickey,  Benjamin  J.,  son  of  Benjamin  and  Eliza,  Nov. 

20,  1844. 


PRESBYTEKIAK       CHURCH.  121 


Mc'KeeliMii,  (u'orov,  son   of  Robert   mihI   Caroline,  Mar. 

12,  184o. 
McLaugliliii,  J);mi('l   llar[H'r,  son  of  Saimu-l  and  Maria, 

Nov.' 8,  1845. 
McLauglilin,  Robert,  Apr.  20,  184(). 
^MeLanglilin,  ^uwm,  wife  of  Robert,  Apr.  20,  1846. 
McLauglilin,   I.avina,   (laughter  of  Robert  and  8usan, 

Apr.\>0,  184(). 
McLaughlin,  Eliza  E.,  daughter  of  Robert  and  8usan, 

Apr.'20,  184(). 
McLaughlin,  Enialine,  daughter  of  Rol)ert  and  Husan, 

Apr.  20,  184(>. 
McLaughlin,  Zacliariah,  son  of  Robert  and  Susan,  Apr. 

20,  1846. 
McLaughlin,  Rol)ert  J.,  son  of  Robert  and  Susan,  Apr. 

20,  1840. 
McFarlane,  John  Finley,  son  of  I.  G.  and    Margaret, 

May  18,  184(*). 
^IcWillianis,  Albert,  son  ol  Jane,  Aug.  8,  1846. 
]McCune,  Sanuiel   Brady,  son  of  William  and   Mary  A., 

Nov.  7,  1846. 
McCoy,  William  A.  Shann(jn,  son  of  Daniel  and  Marg- 
aret, Feb.  5,  1847. 
McKeehan,  Robert  M.,  son  of  Robert  and  Caroline,  Nov. 

12,  1847. 
McFarlane,  Anna   ^I.,  daughter  of  I.  G.  and  Margaret, 

Nov.  12,  1847. 
Mickey,  Sarah  Belle,  daughter  of  Robert  and  Elizabeth, 

Nov.  lr>,  1847. 
McDannel,  John    Martin,  son    of  William    and    Mary, 

June,  11,  1848. 
McLaughlin,  Samuel  J.,  son  of  Samuel  and  Maria,  Aug. 


122  THE      BIG       SPRING 

19,  1848. 

McKiniiey,  Maria,  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Rachel,  May 

12,  1849. 
McFarlane,  James  Graham,  son  of  J.  G.  and  Margaret, 

July  8,  1849. 
McCune,  Cyrus,  son  of  Hugh,  July  22,  1849. 
Mickey,  John  E.,  son  of  Robert  and  Elizabeth,   Aug.  3, 

1849. 
Montgomery,  Hannah  E.,  daughter  of  Robert  and  Ra- 
chel, Feb.  3,  1850. 
McDannel,  Jane  A.,  daughter  of  William   and    Mary, 

Feb.  3,  1850. 
McKeehan,  Emma,  daughter  of  Robert  and  Mary,  Aug. 

10,  1850. 
McKinney,  David  A.,  son  of  Thomas  and  Rachel,  Feb. 

7,  1851. 
Mickey,  Laura  A.,  daughter  of  Robert  and   Eliziibeth, 

Feb.  7,  1851. 
Morrow,  Ada,  daughter  of  John  S.  and  Rachel,  July  14, 

1851. 
Owens,  Benjamin,  F.,  son  of  Albert  and  Hannah,  Aug. 

10,  1850. 
Piper,  Maria  E.,  daughter  of  Elder  and  Elizabeth,  Nov, 

9,  1850. 
Piper,  John  A.,  son  of  Andrew  and  Eliza,  June  10,  1832. 
Philips,  Nancy  I.,  daughter  of  Edward,  Oct.  21,  1832. 
Pierce,  William,  son  of  Andrew   and  Rebecca,  Mar.  31, 

1833. 
Piper,  James,  son  of  Andrew,  May  11,  1833. 
Philips,  John  G.,  son  of  Edward,  Oct.  16, 1836. 
Patterson,  William  O.,  son  of  Samuel  H.,  Feb.  6,  1838. 
Richie,  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  William  and  Elizabeth. 


PRRSBYTERIAN      CHURCH.  1 2o 


Nov.  6,  1881. 
Rea,  John  INIcKeehan,  son  of  Joseph  and  Adaline,  Nov. 

27,  1881. 
Ralston,  IMary  E.,  dau^^liter  David  and  Ellen,  Sept.  15, 

1882. 
Richards,  Andrew  T.,  son  of  Robert   and   Susan,  Aug. 

12,  1887. 
Roberts,  John,  son  of   Andrew  and   Catharine,  Jan.  9, 

1889. 
Roberts,  AVilliani  H.,  son  of  Andrew  and  Catharine,  Jan. 

9,  1889. 
Roberts,  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Andrew  and  Catharine, 

Jan.  9,  1889. 
Roberts,  Robert  Gillespie,  son  of  Andrew  and  Catharine, 

Apr.  24,  1841. 
Rankin,  William  F.,  son  of  Dr.  A.  and   Mary  J.,  Mar. 

29,  184(3. 
Ross,  Alexander,  McWilliams,  son  of  John  and  Hetty, 

Sept.  f),  188o. 
Randolph,  Alexander  L.,  son  of  Paul  and  Amelia,  Dec. 

27,  1888. 
Smith,  Lacy  J.,  Sept.  24,  1881. 
Skelly,  Robert  M.,  Mar.  4,  1882. 
Sponseler,  Jane,  daughter  of  Widow,  Apr.  14,  1882. 
Skelly,  Margaret  J.,  daughter  of  Jane,  Sept.  8,  1882. 
Sharp,  Alexander  McNitt,  son  of  Samuel  H.  and  Eliza- 
beth, Sept.  18,  1884. 
Sterritt,  Isabella    E.,  daughter  of  David    and    Rebecca, 

Aug.  25,  1885. 
Shaw,  Peter  Wilt,  son  of  John  F.,  Se]>t.  2,  1885. 
Swiler,  William  Davidson,  son  of  James,  Jan.  16,  1886. 
Swiler,  Christopher  Hume,  son  of  James,  Apr.  1,  1888. 


124  THE      BIG       SPRING 

Sailor,  William  J.,  son  of  Isaac  and  Lucetta,  Apr.  25, 

1840. 
Stewart,  Jane  A.,  daughter  of  John   and  Rebecca,  Apr. 

24,  1841. 
Seitz,  John  Wilson,  son  of  Abraham,  July  11,  1841. 
Smith,  Margaret   J.,  daughter  of  James  and    Matilda, 

May  17,  1841. 
Stewart,  Susan  E.,  daughter  of  John   and  Rebecca  A., 

Aug.  7,  1842. 
Smith,  Sarah  I.,  daughter  of  James,  Ma}^  13,  1843. 
Swiler,  Sarah  E.,  daughter  of  James,  May  13,  1843. 
Saylor,  Rebecca  J.,  daughter  of  Isaac  and  Lucetta,  Nov. 

26,  1843. 
StcAvart,  John   M.,  son  of  John  and  Rebecca,  Aug.  10, 

1844. 
Stewart,  Mary  E.,  daughter  of  John  and  Rebecca,  May 

26,  1846. 
Stewart,  Caroline  E.,  daughter  of  John   and  Rebecca, 

June  11,  1848. 
Smith,  James  Houston,  son  of  James,  May  12,  1849. 
Thompson,  Margaret  A.,  July  7,  1833. 
Thompson,  Robert  Houston,  Sept.  22,  1833. 
Thompson,  Alexander,  son  of  Alexander,  Dec.  19,  1834. 
Tritt,  Samuel  R.,  son  of  William  and  Wilhemina,  Dec. 

19,  1834. 
Thompson,  Alexander,  son  of  John  and  Sarah,  July  30, 

1836. 
Tritt,  Elizabeth  A.,  son  of  Maj.  Samuel,  Sept.  4,  1836. 
Tritt,  Sarah   E.,  daughter  of  William   and   Wilhemina, 

Aug.  27,  1837. 
Thompson,  Ellen  S.,  daughter  of  Matthew  and    Eliza- 
beth, Aug.  11,  1838. 


PRESBYTERIAN      CHURCH.  125 


Tiitl,  Jane  M.,  daiightei  of  Samuel,  Apr.  24,  1841. 
Toibet,  Josejih  Wallace,  son  of  George   and   Tabitha, 

June  80,  1841. 
Trego,  Mary  E.,  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Margaret,  Mar. 

12,  1845. 
Trego,  Margaret  D.,  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Margaret, 

Mar.  12,  1845. 
Tritt,  Martha  E.,  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Julia,  June,  7, 

1846. 
Trego,  Rachel  R.,  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Margaret,  Oct. 

10,  1847. 
Tritt,  George  W.,  son  of  Samuel   and   Julia,  Nov.  12, 

1847. 
UnderAvood,  William  E.,  Sept.  24,  1881. 
Underwood,  JaneE.,  Sept.  24,  1831. 
Vanderbilt,  Jane   E.,  daughter   of  Cornelius,  May  17, 

1840. 
Vanard,  Letitia,  Peter  Wilt  guardian,  July  29,  1840. 
Vanard,  Wilson,  Peter  Wilt  guardian,  July  29,  1840. 
Vanderbilt,  Enoch,  son  of  John  and  Jane,  May  10,1845. 
Vanderbilt,  William  A.,  son  of  Cornelius  and   Mahala, 

Aug.  8,1848. 
Vanbeaver,  IMary  K.,  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Rebecca, 

Oct.  14,  184().' 
Vanbeaver,  Isabella  Oliver,  daughter  of  Jose})li  and  Re- 
becca, Oct.  14,  1840. 
Vanderbilt,  Jane  E.,  daughter  of  John  and  Jane,  Mar. 

18,  1849. 
Wilt,  John,  son  of  William  and  Mary,  Apr.  14,  1832. 
Wilt,  Jane  Mary,  daughter  of  William  and  INIary,  Apr. 

14,  1882. 
Woods,  Sanuiel,  son  of  William,  July,  22,  1832. 


126  THE      BIG      SPEIXG 


Wilson,  John  8.,  son  of  Maiy,  Aug.  2(>,  1832. 
Wilt,  Eliza  J.,  daughter  of  Hannah,  Oct.  7,  1832. 
Wilt,  Catharine  S.,"aaughter  of  Hanna,  Oct.  7,  1832. 
Wilt,  Rachel  A.  M.,  daughter  of  Hanna,  Oct.  7,  1832. 
Woods,  Dorcas  J.,  daughter  of  WiUiani,  Apr.  12,  1834. 
Woods,  Martha  I.,  daughter  of  William,  June  7,  1835. 
Williams,  Jane  Whiteside,  daughter  of  Louis  H.  and  Ta- 

bitha,  Jan.  28,  1837. 
Woodburn,  James  H.,  son  of  George  and  Mary,  Jan.  17, 

1838. 
Woodburn,  John  J.,  son  of  James  and  Jane,  Apr.  27, 

1838. 
Wallace,  Samuel  Gowdy,  son  of  Thomas,  Apr.  28,  1838, 
Wallace,  AVilliam  Laird,  son  of  Thomas,  Apr.  28,  1838.    • 
AVoods,  William,  son  of  William  and  Margaret,  July  1, 

1838. 
Watson,  John  M.,  son  of  George  and  Eliza  J.,  Aug.  11, 

1838. 
Work,  James  Scott,  son  of  James  and  Margaret,  Jan.  25, 

1840. 
Watson,  William  E.,  son  of  George  and  Eliza  J.,  Dec. 

7,  1840.  ^ 
Work,  Thomas  McFarlane,  son  of  John  and  Margaret, 

June  18,  1843. 
Watson,  Beaty,  son  of  George  and  Sarah,  May  10,  1845. 
Woodburn,  Joseph  A.,  son  of  John  and  Ann,  Aug.  8, 

1846. 
Woodburn,  Laura,  daughter  of  John  and  Ann,  Aug.  8, 

1846. 
Williams,  Samuel  M.,  son  of  Joseph  H.  and  Sarah  I., 

Feb.  5,  1847. 
Watson,  Martha  J.,  daughter  of  George,  Nov.  12,  1847. 


PRESBYTERIAN       CHURCH.  127 


Woods,  William,  son  of  Paxtoii  and  Jane,  Aug.  9,  1851. 
Woods,  James  Woodl)urn,  son  of  Paxton  and  Jane,  Dec. 

22,  ISoO. 
Woods,  Thomas  Jacob,  son  of  Paxton  and  Jane,  Dec* 

22,  1850. 
Woods,  Elizabeth  J.,  daughter  of  Paxton  and  Jane,  Dec. 

22,  1850. 
AVoods,  Margaret  A.,  daughter  of  Paxton  and  Jane,  Dec. 

22,  1850. 
Woods,  Samuel  A.,  son  of  Paxton  and  Jane,  Aug.  9, 

1851. 
Watson,  Anna  M.,  daughter  of  George  and  Sarah,  Aug, 

17,  1851. 
Zeigler,  Nancy  Herron,  daughter  of  Dr.  and  Sarah,  Aug. 

19,  1850. 


QM^S'-i 


^J^|s>*--^ 


128  THE      BIG       SPRIXG 


PASTOKATE  OF  REV.  JAMES  S.  H.  HENDER- 
SON. 
At  a  congTegatiunal  meeting  held  April  19,  1851,  a 
luianiinoiis  call  was  extended  to  Rev.  Robert  Johnson, 
which  call  was  not  accepted.  On  the  2(3th  of  the  fol- 
lowing July  the  congregation  elected  Rev.  J.  S.  H.  Hen- 
derson, pastor  of  the  Big  Spring  Church.  Mr.  Hender- 
son accepted  the  call  and  soon  after  entered  upon  his 
pastoral  duties.  During  the  ministry  of  Mr.  Hender- 
son very  serious  difficulties  arose  between  the  pastor  and 
meml^ers  of  the  congregation,  wliich  resulted  in  many 
leaving  the  church.  The  trouble  Avas  taken  to  Presby- 
tery and  that  hodj  found  nolliing  to  censure  in  JNIr. 
Henderson.  In  October,  18(32,  tlie  pastoral  relation  ex- 
isting between  the  Big  Spring  congregation  and  Mr.  Hen- 
derson was  dissolved.  The  congregation  expressed  their 
confidence  in  Mr.  Henderson  by  passing  the  following 
resolution:  "Resolved,  that  we  regret  the  necessity 
Avhicli  impelled  Mr.  Henderson  to  ask  for  the  dissolu- 
tion of  the  pastoral  relation;  tliat  we  cordially  bear  testi- 
mony to  the  f  lithtulness  of  our  beloved  pastor  during 
the  time  he  was  with  us,  and  still  have  unwavering  con- 
fidence in  him  as  a  servant  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  a  faith- 
ful messenger  of  the  Church  of  God;  that  in  going  from 
us  he  bears  Avitli  him  our  ])rayers  for  his  success  and 
happiness,  and  we  cordially  commend  him  to  the  love 
and  care  of  the  Christain  community  where  his  lot  may 
be  cast."  Mr.  Henderson  received  into  the  church  two 
hundred  and  fifteen  members;  baptized  one  hundred  and 
sixty  children,  and  married  ninety-seven  couples. 


PRESBYTERIAN      CHURCH.  129 


PASTORATE  OF  REV.  PHILIP  H.  MOAVRY, 

D.  D. 

Rev.  P.  H.  ]\ro\vry  w;is  elected  ])astor  of  the  Big 
Spring  Cliureli  October  17,  1863,  and  entered  upon  his 
pastoral  duties  the  foUowing  December.  He  was  in- 
stalled June,  1864. 

The  short  niinistrv  of  Dr.  Mowry  was  marked  ])y  ad- 
vancement in  temporal  and  spiritual  things.  Unkind 
feelings  of  former  years  were,  to  a  great  extent,  healed. 
A  deep  religious  feeling  pervaded  the  congregation,  ])ar- 
ticularly  was  this  the  case  during  the  months  of  April 
and  May,  18(i().  Special  services  were  held  by  the  pas- 
tor which  resulted  in  large  accessions  to  the  church.  The 
church  ediiice  was  remodeled,  and  the  ])ipe  organ  now^ 
in  use  was  ])urchased.  The  use  of  tables  in  the  adminis- 
tration of  the  comnuuiion  were  dispensed  with  l)y  reso- 
lution of  the  session,  September  0,  1864.  In  October, 
18()8,  the  pastoi'al  relation  was  severed.  The  efficient 
work  performed  by  Dr.  Mowry  and  the  high  esteem  in 
which  he  was  held  by  the  congregation  is  best  expressed 
by  an  extract  from  resolutions  passed  by  the  congrega- 
tion at  the  time  of  his  resignation.  "'Resolved,  that  the 
jwstoral  relation  existing  betw^een  this  congregation  and 
Rev.  P.  H.  Mowi'v,  lias  been  marked  by  uninterrupted 
harmony  and  good  feeling;  that  we  have  every  reason  to 
be  thankful  for  the  signal  manner  in  which  his  labors 
in  our  midst  have  l)een  blest,  and  that  he  carries  with 
him  our  highest  esteem  and  warmest  affection."  One 
hundred  and  thirty-six  mend)ers  were  added  to  the 
church  during  this  jinstorate. 


130  THE      BIG      SPEING 


PASTORATE   OF   REV.   EBENEZER  ERSKINE, 

D.  D. 

On  the  17tli  of  August,  1869,  the  congregation  elected 
Rev.  Dr.  Erskine  pastor.  He  accepted  the  call  and  en- 
tered his  ministerial  duties  October  9,  1869.  During 
the  ministry  of  Dr.  Erskine,  pastor  and  people  have 
done  aggressive  church  work.  Special  series  of  services 
were  introduced  from  time  to  time,  resulting  in  several 
revivals  of  religion.  The  most  note  w^orthy  of  which 
was  the  revival  of  1876.  In  the  last  week  of  December, 
1875,  Rev.  Ed^yard  P.  Hammond  preached  for  a  couple 
of  days  which  was  followed  by  union  services  by  the 
different  pastors  of  the  town  in  their  respective  churches? 
for  six  wrecks.  These  services  produced  a  profound  im- 
pression upon  the  community  and  resulted  in  nuicli 
good.  Business  in  the  town  was  almost  suspended  for  a 
time,  people  giving  themselves  up  to  church  going  and 
conversation  on  matters  of  religion.  Many  accessions 
were  made  to  all  the  churches,  the  Presbyterian  receiving 
one  hundred  and  two  members.  The  next  largest  in 
gathering  followed  the  special  union  services  held  in  the 
different  churches  of  New^ville  by  Rev.  Francis  E. 
Smiley  in  1892.  At  that  time  thirty-three  personsj 
united  with  the  Big  Spring  Church. 

The  congregation  led  by  the  pastor  has  taken  ad- 
vanced grounds  on  the  moral  questions  of  the  day,  es- 
pecially in  temperance  lines.  Five  Missionary  societies 
and  a  Christian  Endeavor  Society  have  been  organized 
during  Dr.  Erskine's  ministry.  Notwithstanding  the 
frequent  demands  upon  his  time  by  the  church  at  large, 
rarely  a  Sunday  passes  w^ithout  finding  Dr.  Erskine  in 
his  pulpit  faithfully  presenting  the  offers  of  siilvation  to 


PRESBYTERIAN      CHURCH.  131 


tlie  impenitent,  and  strengthen ing  cliristians  in  their 
most  holy  faith.  Five  hundred  and  seventeen  persons 
have  been  added  to  tlie  eliurch  durino;  the  ministry  of 
Dr.  Erskine.  We  take  from  the  hist  report  of  Dr.  Ers- 
kiiie  to  tlie  Presbytery  on  the  State  of  Eeligion  in  the 
conoreiration,  tlie  followini;-:  "Number  of  members  of 
the  ehurch,  three  hiindi-cd  and  thi]'t3'-nine.  Four  servi- 
ces are  held  on  the  Sabbath  and  one  during  the  week 
the  greater  part  of  the  year.  The  attendance  has  been 
generally  good.  The  catechism  is  taught  in  the  Sabbath 
School.  The  Avoman's  and  young  people's  missionary 
societies  are  well  attended,  and  are  active  and  liberal  in 
support  of  the  work.  The  spirituality  of  the  church  has 
been  much  quickened  during  the  past  winter  by  a  series 
of  special  religious  services.  Five  hundred  and  ninety- 
six  dollars  were  contributed  during  the  year  for  Home 
and  Foreign  Missions.  The  cause  of  temperance  has 
been  strengthened  and  advanced  during  the  year.  The 
gospel,  however,  is  our  chief  dependence  in  the  moral 
elevation  of  the  community  when  faithfully  preached, 
attended  by  the  demonstration  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  which 
makes  it  the  power  of  (jod  unto  salvation  to  all  true 
believers." 


BJII|=S>=4^ 


132  THE       BIG       SPEING 


CHURCH  BUILDINGS. 

The  first  cliiircli  building  was  erected  in  1737  or  1738, 
shortly  after  the  organization  of  the  congregation.  It 
was  a  log  structure  and  stood  in  the  present  grave  yard 
until  1790.  We  have  nothing  descriptive  of  its  appear- 
ance or  arrangement.  In  1790  the  congregation  built  a 
large  stone  church  in  the  style  then  prevailing.  It  is 
said  the  plan  was  furnished  by  Rev.  Robert  Davidson, 
then  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  Carlisle,  and 
afterwards  president  of  Dickinson  College.  The  two 
back  ]>ews  along  the  south  wall  in  every  tier  from  east  to 
west  wall  were  raised  above  the  floo]*;  the  one  next  the 
Avail  about  sixteen  inches.  The  one  in  front  of  it  about 
eisi'ht  inches.  The  same  was  true  of  the  elevation  of  the 
back  pews  in  the  tiers  on  the  east  and  west  of  the  pulpit. 
Every  pew  in  the  church  had  its  price  marked  on  it  in 
shillings  and  pence,  varying  from  sixty  shillings  the 
highest  to  twenty  shillings  the  lowest.  The  raised  pews 
at  the  back  walls  were  about  eight  shillings  higher  than 
those  before  them.  The  church  was  heated  by  three 
stoves  placed  in  the  three  aisles  leading  from  the  front 
doors.  The  pulpit  was  placed  high  against  the  north 
wall  and  was  reached  by  a  flight  of  steps  on  each  side. 
The  pews  had  high  straight  backs. 

In  1832  the  propriety  of  building  a  new  churcli  or  re- 
modeling the  old  one  was  agitated,  and  in  February  of 
that  year  the  congregation  resolved  to  build  a  new 
cliurch  and  voted  three  thousand  dollars  for  the  ])ur- 
pose.  The  records  of  the  church  show  considerable 
confliction  of  opinion  in  the  matter  and,  although  it  was 
frequently  brought  before  the  congregation  and  board  of 
trustees,  nothing   was   accomplished    for  several   years. 


PRESBYTERIAN      CHURCH.  135 


Some  of  the  hu-iiiIkts  wvw  in  favor  of  using  the  "funds 
of  the  ehuivli "  ^vllit*ll  were  tlie  quit  rents  and  the  sale  of 
quit  rents,  others  oj-»])Osed  this  vigoi'ously.  Finally 
more  tleeisive  aetion  ^vas  taken.  On  January  25,  1840, 
the  congregation  instructed  the  trustees  to  raise  funds 
and  proceed  to  the  I'epairing  of  tlie  ehureh,  and  at  a 
meeting  held  the  fifteenth  of  the  following  Feln'uary  die 
congregation  "resolved  that  the  trustees  are  hereby  auth- 
orized and  required  to  appro])riate  three  years  interest 
accruing  from  the  monies  and  bank  stock,  together  with 
three  years  quit  rents,  accruing  from  the  lots  in  the 
borough  of  KeAvville,  to  the  repairing  and  remodeling  of 
this  house,  provided  the  sum  does  not  exceed  seven  hun- 
dred dollars.  "From  this  time  the  work  of  remodeling 
proceeded  without  interruption  until  completion.  The 
trustees  in  conjunction  with  the  congregation  decided  on 
making  the  following  changes  in  the  church  edifice: 
The  pul]iit  was  to  lie  placed  in  the  east  end  of  the 
church,  and  a  lobby  of  nine  and  a  half  feet  was  to  be 
taken  from  the  west  end  of  the  church  and  over  the 
lobljy  a  gallery  was  to  l)e  made.  The  two  jirincipal 
aisles  were  to  be  six  feet  wide,  and  to  run  east  and  west. 
The  aisle  in  front  of  the  pulpit  was  to  be  seven  and  a 
half  feet  wide.  The  pews  on  the  right  and  left  of  the 
])ulpit  were  to  be  eight  feet  in  length,  and  the  two  last 
l)ews  in  the  west  end  were  to  be  raised  across  the  whole 
range,  and  all  i)ews  to  have  panel  doors.  There  were 
to  be  four  windows  on  each  side  of  the  Iniilding  and  two 
at  each  end,  lowered  to  the  standard  of  making  windows 
in  modern  churches, each  window  to  contain  twenty-four 
panes  of  glass,  twelve  by  iburteen.  There  were  to  be  two 
doors  opposite  the  aisle  running  north  and  south;  two 


136  THE       BIG       SPrvING 


doors  from  the  west  end  from  the  lobby  into  the  church, 
and  a  large  door  from  the  west  end  to  enter  the  lobby, 
with  circular  top  and  glass  above.  Thi'ee  center  pieces 
were  to  be  placed  on  the  ceiling,  A  new  floor  was  to  be 
laid.  A  cupola  was  to  be  placed  on  the  west  end  in 
which  a  bell  was  directed  to  be  hung.  The  bell,  hoAv- 
ever,  was  not  bought  until  1854.  All  of  these  changes 
seem  to  have  been  made  and  the  work  completed  by  the 
fall  of  1841,  for  on  the  second  of  November  of  that  year 
at  a  meeting  of  the  trustees  a  committee  w^as  appointed 
to  settle  with  the  contractor,  Jacol)  Zeigler.  The  report 
made  of  the  expense  of  remodeling  the  church  shows  an 
ex]ienditure  of  two  thousand  three  hundred  and  thirty- 
nine  dollars  and  thirty-hve  cents.  Prior  to  18oo  the 
cupola  appears  to  have  become  damaged  by  some  means, 
and  in  the  fall  and  winter  of  1858  it  was  taken  down 
and  replaced  by  another.  About  this  time  the  two 
small  rooms  in  the  lobby  were  removed  and  stairs  to  the 
gallery  placed  at  each  end  of  the  lobby.  A  bell  was 
purchased  and  placed  in  the  new  cupola  at  an  expense 
of  one  hundred  and  seventy-five  dollars,  and  was  re- 
ported as  being  paid  for  at  a  meeting  of  the  congrega- 
tion February  12,  1854.  In  1865  the  gallery  of  the 
church  was  taken  down  and  a  platform  erected  in  its 
place  for  the  use  of  the  choir  and  the  accommodation  of 
the  \n\^e  organ  which  was  purchased  at  that  time.  The 
pulpit  was  lowered  and  a  new  carpet  was  laid.  At  a 
a  congregational  meeting  held  Novem})er  28,  1880,  it 
was  resolved  to  remodel  the  old  church  building.  This 
was  done  during  the  year  1881,  and  the  remodeled  edi- 
fice was  reopened  for  worship. 

The  improvements  consisted  of  erecting  a  spacious  and 


rRESBYTERTAN      CHURCH.  137 


well  appointed  lecture  room  at  tlie  east  end  of  the  church, 
the  same  being  divided  into  two  apartments  for  Sabbath 
School  ]iur]wses;  the  erection  of  a  square  tower  with 
belfry  on  the  soutli  side  of  the  church;  the  enlarging  of 
the  audience  room  l)y  adding  a  recess  to  the  east  end  for 
the  pulpit;  erecting  a  porch  at  the  Avest  end  serving  the 
])urpose  of  a  vestibule,  and  adding  a  recess  at  the  north 
and  soutli  sides  in  which  the  stoves  are  placed.  The 
audience  room  was  changed  by  a  broad  central  aisle 
running  east  and  west,  and  side  aisles  along  the  south 
and  north  walls.  The  church  was  furnished  with  hand- 
some gothic  pews  in  walnut  and  chestnut;  gothic  pulpit, 
furniture  in  walnut,  and  crimson  carpet.  The  ceiling 
was  raised  in  gothic  shape  to  the  rafters  and  ornamented 
in  stucco  work,  finished  in  white.  The  organ  Avas  placed 
to  the  left  of  the  pulpit  on  a  raised  platform.  The  old 
square  windows  were  changed  to  gothic,  memorials  to 
the  families  of  James  McFarlane,  Daniel  McDannel, 
Andrew  Rdston,  Robert.  Mickey,  Samuel  and  Deborah 
]McKeehan,  James  and  Susan  McCord,  Rev.  Samuel 
Wilson,  Rev.  Joslma  AVilliams,  D.  D.,  Daniel  Leckey 
and  David  McKiniiey. 

When  the  church  Avas  remodeled  in  1841  the  exterior 
was  rough  coated,  after  a  few  vears  this  coatins:  fell  off 
in  ])atches  and  gave  the  walls  a  very  unsiglitly  appear- 
ance. It  was  aojain  coated  in  1881.  In  18U4  it  was  all 
removed  showing  the  solid  stone  masonry  erected  by 
the  fatliers  over  a  century  ago. 

In  the  summer  and  fall  of  1896  the  interior  of  the 
Church  was  greatly  beautified,  largely  due  to  tlie  exer- 
tions of  the  ladits  of  the  congregation.  The  walls 
were  handsomely  frescoed;   a   brussels   carpet   in   green 


138  THE       BIG       SPRING 


was  laid;  the  pews  cushioned  throughout;  an  artistic 
brass  rail  was  placed  around  the  organ  loft,  from  Avhieh 
was  hung  curtains  of  green  A^elour;  all  ])resenting  a  har- 
monious and  pleasing  effect.  The  amount  ex]iended  on 
these  improvements,  Avas  seventeen  hundred  and  sixty- 
four  dollars. 

Tradition  says,  that  a  log  study  or  session  house  was 
built  near  the  first  church,  but  we  have  no  records 
showing  the  fact.  In  1796,  a  stone  building  was  erect- 
ed at  the  north  side  of  the  church,  at  a  cost  of  about 
$500.  Archibald  McCoy,  was  the  contractor.  This 
]juilding  was  called  by  some,  a  study  house,  by  others, 
a  session  house,  and  was  also  known  as  the  school  house 
from  the  fact  that  a  Latin  school  was  taught  there  for  a 
numl)er  of  years.  This  building  stood  until  about 
1840,  when  it  was  taken  down  and  a  Inick  building 
erected  at  the  east  end  of  the  churcli.  This  building 
served  for  school  and  sessional  pur]:)oses  until  the  erec- 
tion of  the  present  lecture  room  in  the  rear  of  the 
church  in  1881. 

OCCUPANTS    OF    PEWS    IN    1790. 
NO. 

1.  Rev.  Banuiel  Wilson. 

2.  John  Davidson,  Andrew  Patterson. 
8.     liobert  Patterson,  Andrew  Patterson. 

4.  James  Graham,  Jared  Graham. 

5.  Samuel  Woods,  William  Wotjds,  Joseph  Pollock. 
(3.     John  Leniond,  Thos.  Glenn,  W.  Woods, 

7.  John  McKeehan,  James  Huston. 

8.  Alexander  Ofhcei-,  William  Douglas. 

9.  Matthew  Davidson. 

10.     Samuel  Blair,  William  .Alitten. 


PRESBYTERIAN      CHITRCH. 
WEST 


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140  THE      BIG      SPRING 


11.  William  Clark. 

12.  Benjamin  McKeehan,  George  McKeehan. 

13.  William  Given,  William  Wilson. 

14.  Thomas  Johnson,  John  Bo3^d. 

15.  Joseph  Connelly,  John  Connelly,  William  French. 

16.  John  McDonald,  John  Davidson,  A.  Leckey. 

17.  James  McCune,  William  Auld,  John  Monroe. 

18.  Thomas  Espey,  James  Johnson. 

19.  William  Brattan,  John  Brattan. 

20.  John  Ewing,  William  Ewing. 

21.  James  McFalane,  Widow  McFarlane. 

22.  William  McFarlane,  Alex.  Buchanan,  Alex.  Boyle. 

23.  James  Laughlin,  William  Laughlin. 

24.  John  Hays,  James  Woodburn. 

25.  James  Graham,  Samuel  Lindsay. 

26.  George  Lefevre. 

27.  Samuel  Reauge,  Maiy  Reauge,  R.  Beard,  D.  Craw- 

ford. 

28.  John  Espey,  George  Espey,  John  McDowell. 

29.  John  Beale,  James  Johnson. 

30.  John  Rippet,  John  Shannon. 

31.  Widow  Cummins,  James  Kirkpatrick. 

32.  Richard  Woods,  Gabriel  Glenn. 

33.  David  Stevick,  James  Nicholson. 

34.  James  Irwin,  Matthew  Ramsey. 

35.  Thomas  Jacobs,  David  Ralston. 

36.  Paul  Martin,  Thomas  McGuffin,    I.    Dearborough. 

37.  Robert  Hutchinson,  John  Patton. 

38.  James  Turner,  John  Turner. 

39.  Samuel  Mathers,  Joseph  Mathers. 

40.  John  Reid,  W.  Hunter,  A.  Brown,  D.  Gallespie. 

41.  James  McKeehan,  Jarman  Jacobs. 


PRESBYTERIAN      CHURCH.  141 


42.  William  Liisk,  John  Caldwell. 

48.  IMatthcw  Walker,  Samuel  Fiiiley. 

44.  Jere  McKibben,  Benjamin  Stewart,  James  Brown. 

45.  John  Brown,  James  McCulloch. 

46.  Robert  IMcClure,  James  Laird,  Matthew  Wilson. 

47.  John    Huston,    Thomas    Norton,    Alexander    Mc- 

Bride. 

48.  William  ]^rys<)n,  Hugh  Allen. 

4U.  John  Carson,  Samuel  Emmett,  Joseph  Parks. 

50.  John  McCune,  Samuel  Wier. 

51.  Hugh  Laughlin,  Alexander  Laughlin. 

52.  Robert  ^leFarlane,  William  Thompson. 

53.  Samuel  Morrow,  Samuel  McCormick. 

54.  R(jbert  Mickey,  James  Jack. 

i)~).  Robert  Shannon,  William  Stevens. 

5(i.  Solomon  Lightca]),  Daniel  McLaughlin. 

57.  Robert  AValker,  James  AValker,  Samuel  AVilson. 

58.  James  INIcGuffog,  William  McGuffog,  John   Rob- 

inson, 

59.  John  AVork. 

60.  Nathaniel  Roberts,  Gillespie. 

6L  Alexander  iNIcClintock,  Adam  Carnahan. 

62.  John  Morain,  Dr.  Laughlin. 

{'}'.].  Adam  r>ratton,  George  Gillespie,  Thomas  Gillespie. 

64.  Robert  ^lickey,  Andrew  ^lickey,  Carna- 
han. 

60.  Thomas  McDonald,  William  McDonald,  William 
Hunter. 

()(>.  James  Mickey,  ^^'ilbam  Kilgore. 

1)7.  d()sc])h  Vanhorn,  riohn  Kelley,  fJo!&ej)h  Kclley. 

()8.  William  Duncan,  John  Doyle,  Henry  Clark. 

6U.  Alexander  Elliott,  Thomas  Mathers. 


142  THE       BIG       SPEING 


70.  Samuel  Walker, McCiine. 

71.  Win.  Walker,  Andrew  Walker,  D.  Walker,   Rol)- 

ert  Officer. 

72.  Tlionias  Kennedy,  John  Bratton. 

73.  Samuel  McEllienn}^  and  sons,  John  Morrow. 

74.  Joseph  Wilson,  Jesse  Kilgore,  Robert  Kilgore. 

75.  Andrew  MeElwain,  John  Bell. 

76.  John  Purdy,  David  Ramsey,  rfohn  Walker. 

77.  John  Brown,  Widow  Wallcer. 

78.  John  McFarLuie,  John  Mitchell,  'Samuel  Mitchell. 

79.  Alexander  Thompson,  William  Thompson. 

80.  James  W.  Appleby,  James  McCurdy. 

81.  Rol^ert  MeElwain,  Nellie  Stewart. 

82.  David  Williamson,  Andrew  Thompson. 

83.  Robert  Beale,  Andrew  Beale. 

84.  James  Hamilton,  Robert  Lusk. 


PRESBYTERIAN       CHTTRCH.  148 


THE  GLEBE. 

The  (jlel>e  or  land  belonging  to  the  church,  consisted 
of  eighty-nine  acres  and  some  perches.  A  Avarrant  for 
this  tract  was  issued  from  the  Land  Office  of  the  Prov- 
ence, Ma  rcli  2,  1744,  to  William  Lemond,  James  Walker, 
Alexander  IMcClintock  and  David  Killough,  for  the  use 
of  and  in  tract  for  the  Presbyterian  congregation  of  Big 
Spring.  This  trust  was  called  "Eeliance"  and  was  held 
under  the  original  warrant  until  the  23rd  of  September, 
1794,  when  it  Avas  patented  by  the  State  authorities. 
The  congregation  built  a  stone  parsonage  on  the  glebe 
on  the  high  ground  on  the  north  side  of  JMain  street 
near  the  Big  Spring,  the  ruins  of  which  stood  until  a 
few  years  ago.  The  parsonage  was  occupied  by  the  pas- 
tor until  some  time  after  the-  settlement  of  Mr.  Wilson. 
He  bought  a  fju-m  on  the  north  side  of  the  Conodoguinet 
where  he  built  a  stone  house.  The  farm  is  now 
owned  by  his  great  grand  son,  James  W.  Sharp.  Dur- 
ing Mr.  Wilson's  residence  over  the  creek  the  parsonage 
was  rented.  On  Jan.  10th,  1707,  the  parsonage  prop- 
erty was  offered  at  pu])lic  sale.  Rev.  Samuel  Wilson 
jnirchased  it  at  £35  8d.  per  acre  for  about  live  acres. 

The  propriety  of  laying  out  a  town  on  the  glebe  land 
]i;i<I  been  discussed  several  years  before  it  was  laccom- 
])lished.  The  first  record  of  a  meeting  of  the  trustees  or 
congregation  when  the  expediency  of  laying  out  a  town 
was  considered,  is  taken  from  the  trustees  minute  book 
of  ]  7S(S;  the  first  Ixxik  u^cd  after  tlie  church  was  incor- 
l^orated.  The  cluirch  was  inc()r])orated  Fe])ruary  27, 
1785,  under  the  style  and  title  of  "The  First  Presbyter- 
ian Church  in  Newton  townshij)  in  the  County  of  Cum- 
berhmd.     The  resolutions  t<iken  from  that  book  are  as 


144  THE      BIG      SPRING 

follows: 

"Aug.  16,  1700. — It  was  moved  find  agreed  that  the 
time  for  laying  off  the  town  ujwn  the  glebe  be  defered 
until  the  next  meeting." 

"Friday,  Aug.  20.  The  trustees  met  for  laying  off 
the  town  upon  the  glebe  land,  agreeable  to  instructions 
from  the  congregation,  and  their  own  resolutions  of  the 
last  meeting,  but  on  Rev.  Mr.  Wilson's  opposition 
thereto,  the  trustees  agreed  to  postpone  the  prosecution 
of  the  business  until  they  had  further  instructions  from 
the  congregation." 

"Sept.  9,  1790.— The  trustees  met  and  laid  off  sixty 
lots  of  ground,  sixty  feet  front  aud  one  hundred  feet 
back;  after  which  they  directed  Mr.  Vanhorn  to  make  a 
drawing  of  the  same,  and  appointed  the  president,  Mr. 
Mathias,  INIr.  Vanhorn  and  the  secretary,  a  committee  to 
meet  the  following  Tuesday  at  the  office  of  the  secretary 
for  the  purpose  of  making  a  plan,  &c.,  for  the  disposi- 
tion of  lots."  The  plan  drawn  consisted  of  one  street. 
Main  street,  to  run  from  the  spring  to  the  west,  with 
Glebe  alley  running  parallel  on  its  south,  and  Cove 
alley  on  its  north;  to  be  crossed  by  the  streets  Corpora- 
tion, High  and  West;  the  former  two  to  extend  north  to 
the  boundary  of  the  glebe.  Building  lots  were  laid  out 
on  these  streets,  and  all  the  remaining  land  of  the  tract 
was  divided  into  parcels  of  from  two  to  five  acres  for  pas- 
ture and  tillage. 

"Sept.  16. — The  trustees  met.  The  committee  sub- 
mitting the  plan  of  the  town  and  the  conditions  of  sale 
to  them;  it  was  agreed  as  follows:  That  the  town  shall 
be  called  Newville,  that  the  lots  already  laid  off  be  dis- 
posed of  by  lottery,  at  a  rate  of  six  dollars  a  ticket  re- 


PRESBYTERIAN       CHURCH.  145 


serving  one  and  forty-fonr,  which  shall  be  sold  at  public 
vendue.  That  all  the  lots  fronting  on  INIain  street  be 
subject  to  a  ground  rent  of  ten  sliillings.  No.  1  of 
the  reserved  lots  to  be  subject  to  a  ground  rent  of  twelve 
shillings,  and  No.  44  to  sixteen  shillings  and  eight  pence. 
That  adventures  j)ay  one-third  of  the  ju'ice  of  their  tick- 
ets in  hand,  and  give  their  ol)ligation  for  the  balance, 
])ayable  in  three  months." 

Oct.  28. — The  day  appointed  for  the  sale  of  reserved 
lots,  and  likewise  for  the  drawing  of  the  lottery.  The 
sale  and  drawing  was  postponed  until  Thursday  of  No- 
venibei". 

Nov.  4. — The  trustees  proceeded  to  tlie  s;de  of  lot  No. 
1,  which  was  duly  ])urchased  l)y  William  Laugldin, 
sen.,  for  the  sum  of  eighty  pounds  currency,  and  lot  44, 
by  George  INIcKeehan,  for  the  sum  of  eighteen  pounds, 
twelve  shillings.  The  sale  being  over,  they  proceeded 
to  the  drawing  of  the  lottery.  The  following  scale  of 
drawing  was  the  result: 

Sixty  lots  were  drawn  at  about  three  pounds  each. 
On  the  12tli  of  December,  six  were  sold  for  six  dollars 
the  lot.  The  balance  of  the  lots  w^re  not  drawn  but 
were  sold  at  jnivate  sale.  The  ])asture  lots  were  sold  at 
from  $24  to  f27  per  acre.  Al)out  eiglit  acres  of  the 
north-east  corner,  was  reserved  for  parsonage  use,  and 
subsequently  sold  to  the  Rev.  S.  Wilson.  The  reason 
lots  Nos.  1  and  44  were  considered  more  valuable,  was 
their  water  ])rivileges,  they  bordering  on  the  spring. 
All  of  the  lots  were  deeded  in  limited  fee  with  a  reserv- 
ed incuml)rance,  which  was  to  yield  an  annual  six  per 
cent  rent  to  the  church.  The  incumbrance  on  the 
front  lots,  as   given    in    the    foregoing  resolutions,    was 


146  ,  THE      BIG      SPEING 


|22.22,  each  making  an  annual  quit  rent  of  $1.33;  on 
the  back  lots,  $17.90  each,  with  a  quit  rent  of  |1.07; 
and  upon  the  out  lots,  |lo.38  per  acre,  with  a  quit  rent 
of  eighty  cents. 

The  collection  of  these  rents  as  well  as  the  other  rev- 
enues of  the  church,  was  ahvays  annoying,  and  the  rec- 
ords abound  in  different  methods  that  were  employed 
for  their  collection.  Borne  v/ere  of  a  rather  severe  char- 
acter and  would  hardly  l)e  tolerated  in  this  day.  On 
one  occasion,  we  find  that  "Pews  will  l)e  declared  vacant 
and  given  to  others  if  rent  is  not  ])aid  at  the  end  of  the 
year."  On  another,  "Resolved  that  all  persons  who  are 
indebted  to  the  congregation,  be  notified  to  pay  in  six 
weeks,  or  suit  will  be  instituted  for  recovery  of  the  same. 
Provided  that  in  no  case,  suit  be  brought  against  any 
desolate  or  indigent  female,  or  any  other  individual 
wdiom  the  trustees  may  consider  from  sickness,  poverty, 
or  like  cause,  to  be  unable  to  pay  at  present."  For 
many  years  the  collectors  of  the  church  funds  were  giv- 
en five  per  cent  of  their  collections  for  tlieir  troulde  and 
to  stimulate  them  to  greater  activity.  The  trustees  of 
the  church  in  183(>,  resolved  to  abolish  the  quit  rents 
by  collecting  the  incumbrance  and  giving  the  owner  of 
the  property  a  deed  in  fee  simple.  Many  persons  took 
advantage  of  the  offer,  but  some  of  the  quit  rents  were 
held  by  the  church  as  late  as  1884.  Ha])pily  for  all 
parties,  the  contentions  which  existed  for  so  many  3a^ars 
between  the  church  and  the  town  over  the  right  of  the 
congregation  to  collect  the  ground  rents,  have  passed 
away,  and  now  all  things  move  along  smoothly.  It  is 
thought  by  many,  that  those  eaily  difficulties  over  the 
ground  rent,  served  to  retard  the  growth  of  the  town. 


PRESBYTERIAN       CHUJICH.  147 


Tlie  original  purchasers  of  lots  from  the  trustees  were 
Lu(hvip;  Andrews,  David  Auld,  Wm.  Auld,  Henry 
Aughinhaup,h,  Pliilij)  l>eek,  Isaiah  Bhiir,  ,John  Boyd, 
James  Boyd,  John  Ih-atton,  Wm.  Cowden,  George  Car- 
mer,  Sanmel  Crowel,  John  Clark,  Joseph  Crawford,  John 
Davidson,  John  Dunl)ar,Sanuiel  Finley,  Thomas  George, 
James  CJraham,  Patrick  Greer,  Andrew  Harvey,  Abra- 
ham Hiklebrand,  Hugh  Holmes,  John  Jacob,  Isaac  Jam- 
ison, (icorge  Keiser,  William  Leiper,  William  Laughlin, 
Felix  Scott,  Martha  Lusk,  Robert  Lusk,  Thomas  Lusk, 
David  McClintock,  Sanuiel  ]5^IcCullocli,  Archy  McCoy, 
Henry  JMcDermond,  Sanmel  Mcllheny,  William  McEl- 
wain,  Jere.  McKibben,  Daniel  McQuire,  P]zra  McCall, 
George  ]\IcKeehan,  William  McFarkme,  William  Mc- 
Gonegal,  Isaac  ]\Iason,  Jolm  Mason,  Titus  Miller,  John 
Moore,  Sanuiel  JNIorrow,  John  Nickle,  James  Nicholson, 
David  Ogler,  Robert  (Officer,  James  Patrick,  William 
Poiteiiield,  Williaiu  l^^tton,  Samuel  Silver,  Leonard 
Shannon,  Daniel  Souri)ike,  Brice  Sterrett,  Matthew 
Thompson,  John  Turner,  J.  I).  Waltenl)erger,  John 
Wcily,  Sanuiel  Wilson,  Hugh  Wallace,  David  William- 
son, Thomas  Wilson,  James  AVoodburn,  Alexander 
Work. 

The  folhjwing  is  a  co]\y  of  one  of  the  first  deeds 
granted  by  the  Big  S})ring  Church,  dated  Aug.  25,  1797: 

"Tliis  Indenture  Witnesseth,  That  John  Carson, 
George  McKeehan,  Samuel  Matthias,  Thomas  Jacobs, 
dolin  Davidson,  ^Ir.,  Alex.  'l'h()m])son,  John  Geddes, 
Ks(js.,  the  present  trustees  of  the  incorporated  congrega- 
tion of  Big  Sj)ring,  in  Cumberland  County,  and  State  of 
I'cnnsylvania,  have  in  virtue  of  the  trust  reposed  in  us 
by   the  said    congregation,  and   in   considenillon   of  the 


148  THE      BIG       SPEIXG 

sum  of  two  pounds,  two  shillings  and  two  pence  in  full, 

have  bargained,  &q.,  to  ,  of  Newville,  Newton 

township  (here  follows  a  description  of  the  lot);  being 
the  same  lot  drawn  at  the  lottery  of  the  said  town  lots, 
on  the  4th  of  March,  1790;  and  it  is  part  of  a  tract  of 
land  surveyed  in  persuance  of  a  warrant  dated  March  20, 
1744,  granted  to  William  Lemond  and  others,  in  trust 
for  the  said  congregation,  containing  89  acres  and  105 
j^erches,  and  allowances  as  expressed  in  the  patent 
granted  by  the  Commonwealth  of  Pennsylvania  under 
the  hand  of  Thomas  Mifflin,  Esq.,  Governor,  and  the 
seal  of  the  said  Commonwealth,  to  the  said  John  Carson, 
&c.,  and  successors  of  said  congregation,  dated  at  Phila- 
delphia, September  23,  1794,  together  with  all  the  sing- 
ular, &c.,  to  have  and  to  hold,  &c.  Attest,  John  Ged- 
des,  John  Dunbar,  John  Carson." 

The  house  in  which  Kevs.  William  I^inn  and  Samuel 
Wilson  lived  having  passed  out  of  the  possession  of  the 
congregation,  no  necessity  for  a  parsonage  was  felt  dur- 
ing the  ministry  of  Dr.  Williams  or  j\lr.  McCachran,  as 
they  owned  farms  upon  which  they  lived.  After  the  loca- 
tion of  Mr.  Henderson  this  necessity  arose.  The  congre- 
gation on  January  26, 1854,  authorized  the  trustees  to  sell 
the  remaining  quit  rents  on  borough  lots,  and  invest  the 
proceeds  of  such  sales  in  a  lot  on  which  a  parsonage  was 
to  be  erected.  The  lot  was  not,  however,  purcliased  until 
January  28,  1857,  when  the  trustees  l^ought  from  Peter 
A.  Ahl,  one  acre  of  ground  on  what  is  now  Parsonage 
Street,  this  ground  included  lots  Nos.  55,  53,  51,  49,  47, 
and  32  feet  in  width  of  lot  No.  45.  The  price  paid  was 
four  hundred  dollars.  Immediately  after  the  purchase 
of  a  lot  a  comfortable  and   commodious  brick  ]:)arsonage 


PRESBYTERIAN      CHURCH. 


149 


was  built  at  a  cost  ot  twenty-thi'ee  hundred  and  twenty- 
two  dollars.  This  was  improved  in  18(36,  by  the  ad- 
dition of  a  porch  in  front  of  the  house,  and  in  1888  the 
property  was  enclosed  by  an  iron  fence. 


- — ^=0"fIIS«' 


150  THE       BIG       SPRI^'G 


RULING  ELDERS  OF  THE  CHURCH. 


SABBATH    SCHOOL    AND    SOCIETIES    OF    THE    CHURCH. 

The  first  elders  of  whom  we  have  an  account,  we 
find  taking  part  in  a  joint  meeting  of  the  sessions  of  the 
Big  Spring,  Middle  Spring  and  Rocky  Spring  churches 
in  1743.'''  They  Avere  probably  among  the  first  or- 
dained after  the  organization  of  the  congregation. 
Their  names  were:  David  Killough  and  Samuel  Lem- 
ond. 

We  find  James  Walker  and  Alexander  McClintock, 
associated  with  William  Lemond  and  David  Killough, 
in  obtaining  a  warrant  for  the  glebe  land  in  1744,  and 
presume  they  were  also  elders,  but  we  have  nothing  defi- 
nite to  prove  it. 

The  elders  in  1790  and  dui'ing  the  ministry  of  Rev. 
Samuel  AVilson,  were  William  Lindsay,  John  Carson, 
Robert  Lusk,  John  Lusk,  William  Bell,  Thos.  Jacob, 
Samuel  jMcCormick,  Robert  Patterson,  John  Robinson, 
Hugh  Laughlin,  John  Bell,  John  McKeehan,  David 
Ralston,  John  Caldwell,  William  Stevenson. 

During  the  ministry  of  Rev.  Joshua  Williams,  the 
following  elders  were  ordained: 

Nathan  Ramsey,  Alexander  Thompson,  Thomas 
McCormick,  Isaiah  Graham,  Richard  Woods,  John 
McCune,  James  Brown,  Atchison  Laughlin,  James 
Laird. 

The  following  were  ordaiiied  by  Dr.  Williams,  Sept. 
29,  1827: 

Robert  McElwain,  Nathan  Woods,  Sanuiel  McKee- 
han. 

♦Session  Book  of   Middle  spring  Chuixli. 


PRESBYTEKIAN      CHURCH.  153 


The  following  were  ordained  July  80,  1836: 
David  Ralston,  William  Davidson,   James    Laughlin, 
James  McElhenny,  Andrew    Coyle,    Samuel   Davidson. 
The  following  were  ordained  Nov.  17,  1848: 
William  Ker,  William  Green,  James  Fulton,    Joseph 
Jacob. 

TJie  following  were  elected  Nov.  22,  1858: 
Thomas  Stougli,  William  Brown,  Wm.   Mills   Glenn, 
Robert  Mickey,  James  B.  Leckey. 

The  following  were  elected  Nov.  19,  1870: 
George  Gillespie,    D.   D.    G.    Duncan,   and  William 
Green,  re-elected. 

The  following  were  elected  Nov.  17,  1877,  and  ordain- 
ed f>b.  16,  1878: 

Samuel  A.    McCune,    Peter    Ritner,    John    Wagner, 
David  A.  McKinney,  Edwin  R.  Hays. 
Tlie  following  were  elected  June  27,  1893: 
Dr.  John  C.  Claudy,  James  Cunningham,  George  W. 
Swigert,  John  F.  Kendig,  Dr.  E.  J.  Zook. 

The  Sabbath  School  was  organized  in  1817.  It  was 
not  exclusively  Presbyterian.  It  was  called  a  union 
school  although  most  of  its  officers  and  teachers  were 
Presbyterians.  Rev.  Alexander  Sharp,  D.  D.,  then  a 
vouns;  man  attending  Latin  school  in  Newville,  was  the 
first  sui)erintendcnt.  The  following  in  the  order  they 
are  given  have  l)cen  superintendents  of  the  school.  We 
have  been  unable  to  fix  the  exact  date  of  the  incumbency 
of  all.  Alexander  Sharp  in  1817;  Nathan  Reid,  John 
Moore,  several  years  prior  to  1831;  Andrew  Thompson, 
rTames  Laugldin,  James  R.  Irvine,  the  first  sn])erintend- 
cnt  after  the  school  was  made  exclusively  Presbyterian; 
Andrew    Coylc,  W.  B.  Johnson,  Josei)h   C.  Williams, 


154  THE      BIG      SPRING 


John  M.  Davidson,  J.  Hunter  Herron,  in  1860;  J.  Blair 
Davidson,  in  1862;  James  R.  Brewster,  in  1865;  Thomas 
Stongli,  W.  H.  Thompson,  David  A.  McKinney,  1877 
to  1880;  Thomas  Stongh,  1880  to  1892;  Edwin  R. 
Hays  elected  1892  the  present  incumhent. 

On  July  5,  1814,  a  Ladies'  Bible  Society  was  organized 
under  the  name  of  the  Newville  Bible  Society  as  an  aux- 
iliary of  the  Philadelphia  Bible  Society.  As  the  society 
has  always  been  officered  by  a  Presbyterian  it  has 
been  looked  upon  as  an  organization  of  that  church. 
The  society  organized  with  fifty-six  members  each  of 
whom  were  to  pay  an  annual  membership  fee  of  one 
dollar.  The  treasurer  Avas  the  principal,  and  for  many 
years  has  been  the  only  officer  of  the  society.  The 
treasurers  have  been  in  the  order  given,  ]\Irs.  Elizabeth 
Davidson,  Mrs.  Jane  McCandlish,  Mrs.  Agnes  Wood- 
burn,  IMrs.  Ann  Davidson,  Mrs.  Jane  McFarlane,  jNIiss 
Jennie  W.  Davidson  and  Mrs.  Jane  McCandlish  the 
present  treasurer. 

The  first  Home  Missionary  Society  of  the  church  was 
organized  February  14,  1867;  Rev.  P.  H.  Mowry,  pres- 
ident. The  Society  of  Ho})eful  Workers  was  organized 
1871;  Miss  Mamie  McCandlish  was  tlie  first  president. 
The  Young  Ladies' Branch  of  Workers,  organized  1873, 
with  INIrs.  ]\Iargaret  Stough  as  president.  The  Ladies' 
Foreign  Missionary  Society  was  organized  Nov.  1,  1879; 
Mrs.  J.  B.  Morrow  was  the  first  president.  The  Young 
Ladies'  Branch  of  Hope,  organized  Nov.  15,  1878,  with 
Mrs.  J.  B.  Morrow  as  president.  The  Boys'  Band  organ- 
ized March,  1878;  Mrs.  Jennie  E.  Hays,  president.  The 
Christian  Endeavor  Society  was  organized  Dec.  8,  1889; 
Mrs.  Belle  McK.  Hays  Swope,  was  its  first  president. 


PJlEyUYTEEIAN       CllUKCII.  155 


SONS  OF  THE  CHURCH  WHO  HAVE  EN- 
TERED THE  MINISTRY. 

James  Graham  was  a.  son  of  James  Graham  who  lived 
in  Westpennsboro  township.  He  was  born  October  16, 
1775,  and  died  June  5,  1848.  He  was  graduated  from 
Dickinson  College,  1797.  He  read  theology,  and  was 
licensed  to  preach  in  November,  1800.  He  accepted  a 
call  to  the  Beulah  Presbyterian  Church,  in  Allegheny 
County,  Pa.,  and  was  ordained  and  installed  pastor  of 
that  church  October  18,  1804,  and  so  continued  until 
his  death.  He  married  Elizabeth  ISIartin,  of  Sunbury, 
Pa.,  June  14,  1804. 

Alexander  Williamson  was  a  son  of  David  and  Tamar 
Williamson.  He  was  born  in  Mifflin  township,  Septem- 
ber 17,  1797.  He  wns  graduated  from  Jefferson  Col- 
lege in  1818.  He  entered  Princeton  Seminary  in  1819, 
from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1822.  He  died  at 
Corydon,  Ind.,  July  14,  1809,  after  having  served 
faithAdly,  laboriously  and  with  much  self  denial  as  a 
home  missionary,  in  building  new  churches  in  a  mala- 
rious region  of  country,  for  a  quarter  of  a  century. 

IMcKnight  Williamson,  was  a  son  of  David  and  Ta- 
mar AVilliamson.  He  was  born  in  IMifflin  township  on 
his  father's  farm,  Feb.  28,  1800.  He  graduated  at  Jef- 
ferson College  in  1820.  He  entered  Princeton  Theolog- 
ical Seminary  in  1822,  and  graduated  in  1825.  His 
first  pastorate  was  the  Dickinson  congregation,  not  more 
than  a  dozen  miles  from  his  home.  He  was  ordained 
and  installed  there,  Oct.  20,  1827.  Most  of  his  minis- 
try was  spent  in  the  State  of  Ohio. 

Moses  Williamson,  was  also  a  son  of  David  and  Ta- 
mar Williamson.      He  was   born    on    his    father's    farm 


156  THE      BIG      SPEING 

near  Newville,  May  7,  1802.  He  made  a  public  pro- 
fession of  his  faith  and  was  received  into  the  Big  Spring 
church  in  the  seventeenth  year  of  his  age.  He  was 
graduated  from  Dickinson  College  in  1824.  He  en- 
tered Princeton  Theological  Seminary  in  1825,  from 
which  he  was  graduated  in  1828.  He  was  licensed  by 
the  Presbytery  of  Carlisle,  April  28,  1828.  He  after- 
wards spent  six  months  in  study  at  Andover  Theolog- 
ical seminary,  and  subsequently  became  paetor  of  the 
Presbyterian  church,  at  Cold  Spring,  Cape  May  Co.,  N. 
J.,  where  he  remained  for  over  a  half  a  century.  He 
married  Sept.  15,  1834,  Emily  H.,  daugliter  of  Hum- 
phrey Huges,  of  Cape  May.     He  died  Oct.  80,  1880. 

J.  Davidson  Randolph,  was  a  son  of  Paul  and  Betsy 
(Lecky)  Randolph.  He  was  born  May  16,  1831,  died 
May  23,  1897.  He  graduated  from  the  College  of  New 
Jersey,  1858,  and  from  Princeton  Theological  Seminary 
1861.  He  was  licensed  by  the  Carlisle  Presbytery,  June 
13,  1860.  He  was  ordained  and  installed  pastor  of  the 
Presbyterian  church  at  Frenchtown  and  Kingwood,M<iy" 
16,  1864,  and  later  served  the  congregations  of  Pitts- 
grove,  Daretown,  Christiana  and  Atglen,   where  he  died. 

William  McCandlish,  although  not  born  within  the 
bounds  of  the  Big  Spring  Church,  was  reared  here  and 
can  be  called  a  son  of  the  church.  He  was  born  in 
Scotland,  Sept.  12,  1810.  His  father,  Alexander  Mc- 
Candlish, came  to  this  country  in  1817,  and  settled  near 
Newville,  and  died  there  in  1821.  William,  after  many 
struggles  against  poverty,  entered  Jefferson  College, 
from  which  he  was  graduated,  1834.  He  entered  the 
Western  Theological  Seminary  in  1834,  graduating  in 
1837;  licensed  Sept.    1837,   by  the   Presbytery  of  Car- 


PRESBYTEillAN       CHUKCH.  157 


lisle;  ordained  May  1839  by  the  Presbytery  of  Wooster, 
O.  He  ^vas  actively  engaged  in  the  ministry  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  for  forty-five  years  and  died  in 
Omaha,  Neb.,  Aug.  4,  1884. 

Samuel  Davidson,  was  a  son  of  John  and  Nancy 
(Sterrett)  Davidson,  of  Westpennsboro  township.  He 
entered  the  ministry  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  and 
supplied  the  churches  of  Derry  and  Paxton,  between 
1790  and  1800.     He  died  prior  to  1800. 

Williamson  Nevin  Geddes,  Ph.  D.,  son  of  Dr.  John 
P.,  and  Catharine  I.  (McClay)  Geddes,  was  born  in 
Newville,  Pa.,  Dec.  28,  1836.  He  was  graduated  from 
Jefferson  College  in  1854,  entered  Princeton  Theolog- 
ical Seminary,  from  which  he  graduated  in  1858.  He 
taught  several  high  grade  schools  in  Virginia,  Mary- 
land and  New  Jersey;  was  stated  supply  at  Charlestown, 
W.  Va.,  in  1869  and  1870;  was  ordained  by  the  Pres- 
bytery of  Carlisle,  May  5,  1871;  pastor  of  the  Presbyte- 
rian Church  in  Waynesboro,  Pa.,  in  1871.  In  1872  he 
accepted  the  chair  of  Latin  and  mathematics  in  Han- 
over Colleire  Ind.,  where  he  remained  until  1876.  He 
was  one  of  the  editorial  staff  of  the  "Standard  Diction- 
ary" recently  published. 

John  Hood  Laughlin,  son  of  John  and  Jane  (Hood) 
Laughlin,  was  born  at  Newville,  March  23,  1854.  He 
was  graduated  from  the  College  of  New  Jersey  and  from 
Princeton  Seminary  in  1877.  He  was  ordained  April 
13,  1881,  by  the  Presley tery  of  Carlisle,  a  missionary, 
and  sailed  for  China  September  1881,  where  he  still 
labors.  He  married  first,  July  9,  1881,  Annie  Johnson 
who  died  in  China,  leaving  an  infant  daughter.  He 
married  secondly,  Aug.  17,  1886,  Jennie  Anderson. 


158  THE       BIG       SPRING 


PASTORS  OF  THE  BIG  SPRING  CHURCH. 


REV.     THOMAS    CRAIGHEAD, 

Rev.  Thomas  Craighead  belonged  to  a  family  of  mi- 
nisters. He  was  a  son  of  Rev.  Robert  Craighead,  a 
native  of  Scotland  and  pastor  in  Derry  and  Doneagh- 
more,  Ireland.  He  was  a  brother  of  Rev.  Robert  Craig- 
head, Jr.,  who  was  moderator  of  the  Synod  of  Ireland. 
Thomas  Craighead  was  born  in  Scotland  and  studied 
medicine  there,  but  afterwards  read  theology  under  his 
father  in  Derry,  and  was  licensed  to  preach  the  Gospel, 
was  ordained  and  settled  some  ten  or  more  years  in 
Ireland.  In  consequence  of  the  numerous  grievances 
to  which  the  Presbyterians  were  subject  in  Ireland,  he 
joined  a  company  of  emigrants  and  came  to  America. 
He  first  settled  in  Freetown,  Mass.,  Avhere  he  continued 
for  some  time,  but  became  dissatisfied  because  of  a  want 
of  sufficient  support.  Cotton  Mather,  the  distinguished 
minister  of  Boston  at  tliat  time,  urged  his  friends  at 
Freeport  to  "provide  for  his  continuance  and  spoke  of 
him  as  a  man  of  an  excellent  spirit,  and  should  he  be 
driven  from  among  you  it  would  be  such  a  damage  as  is 
not  to  be  thought  of  without  horror."  In  January,  1724, 
he  became  a  member  of  the  New  Castle  Presbytery  and 
accepted  an  invitation  to  preach  at  White  Clay  Creek 
and  Brandy  Wine.  In  1733,  he  was  called  to  Pequea, 
Penna,,  where  he  was  very  active  in  gathering  and 
building  up  new  congregations.  He  was  released  from 
Pequea  September  19,  1736. 

At  a  meeting  of  Presbytery,  October  27,  1736,  Rev. 
Thomas  Craighead  was  appointed  to  supply  Conodo- 
guinet  for  six  months.     The  following  year  he  was  called 


PRESBYTEEIAN      CHURCH.  159 


to  !su|)ply  the  people  of  Hopewell,  but  was  not  installed 
until  October  13,  1738,  on  account  of  the  difficulty  in 
locating  the  church  on  the  Big  Spring,  and  a  trouble  in 
his  own  family,  he  having  without  consulting  his  ses- 
sion suspended  his  wife  from  church  })rivileges,  because 
she  failed  to  live  in  peace  in  the  same  house  with  her 
daughter-in-law.  He  did  not  live  to  minister  to  the 
congregation  on  the  Big  (Spring  more  than  seven  months, 
but  died  suddenly  the  latter  part  of  April,  1739,  just 
after  preaching  an  eloquent  discourse  to  his  people.  His 
doctrinal  views  were  in  strict  accordance  with  the  West- 
minster slandards,  to  which^  he  was  warndy  attached, 
and  which  he  had  adopted  both  in  the  Presbytery  of 
New  Castle  and  Donegal  as  the  confession  of  his  faith. 
Mr.  Craighead  left  four  sons,  Thomas,  Andrew,  Alex- 
ander and  John.  John  was  a  farmer  and  lived  south  of 
Carlisle. 


RKV.    JOHN    BLAIR,    D.    D. 

Rev.  John  Blair  was  born  in  Ireland  in  1720,  and 
cjune  to  this  country  when  quite  young,  and  most  prob- 
ably his  father  settled  ne^ir  Brandy  wine  or  Red  Clay 
Churches  in  Chester  County,  Pa.,  as  the  name  of  AVil- 
li:nn  Blair  occurs  as  an  elder  from  there  in  1729  and 
1732.  He  and  his  brother  8anmel  received  their  classi- 
cal and  theological  education  under  William  Tennent  at 
the  IjOg  College  at  Neshaminy,  Bucks  County,  Pa.  He 
was  licensed  to  preach  by  the  New  Side  Presbytery  of 
New  Castle,  and  was  ordained  pastor  of  the  congrega- 
tions of  the  Tliree  Springs,  Big,  Middle  and  Rocky,  De- 
cendjer  27,  1742.  During  his  pastorate  here  he  made 
visits  to  Virginia,  the  last  in  174(>,  preaching  with  great 


160  THE      BIG       SPRING 


power  and  effect  in  various  places,  organizing  several 
new  congregations,  and  leaving  where  ever  he  went  an 
abiding  impression  of  his  learning  and  piety.  It  is 
st<ited  by  some  writers  that  he  resigned  his  pastorate  of 
the  churches  of  the  Three  Springs  December,  1748,  but 
this  is  probably  incorrect.  Whilst  the  exact  date  of  his 
resignation  is  involved  in  much  uncertainty,  the  weight 
of  evidence  points  to  the  year  1755.  In  1757  he  ac- 
cepted a  call  to  the  church  at  Faggs  Manor,  Chestei- 
County,  which  had  been  made  vacant  by  the  death  of 
his  distinguished  brother.  Rev.  Samuel  Blair.  Here  he 
remained  ten  years,  taking  his  brother's  place  both  as 
pastor  of  the  church  and  principal  of  the  classical  school 
which  his  brother  had  conducted.  In  17G7  he  was 
chosen  to  fill  the  newly  founded  chair  of  divinity  in 
Princeton  College,  and  was  also  chosen  vice-president, 
and  was  its  acting  president  until  Dr.  Witherspoon  en- 
tered upon  his  duties  in  1769.  It  soon  became  evident 
that  the  fund  contributed  to  endow  the  chair  of  divinity 
was  insufiicient  for  the  supjwrt  of  the  professor.  Ac- 
cordingly Dr.  Blair  resigned  his  position  and  Dr.  With- 
erspoon performed  the  duties  of  both  positions.  Dr. 
Blair  then  accepted  a  call  to  Walkill,  Orange  County, 
N.  Y.,  where  he  continued  until  his  death,  December  8, 
1771,  at  the  age  of  fifty-one.  Dr.  Blair  was  without 
doubt  among  the  foremost  preachers  of  his  time.  Dr. 
Archibald  Alexander  expressed  the  opinion  that  "Dr. 
Blair  as  a  tlieologion  wa^  not  inferior  to  any  man  in  the 
Presbyterian  Church  in  his  day.  He  was  a  judicious 
and  persuasive  preacher,  and  througli  his  preaching  sin- 
ners were  converted  and  the  children  of  God  edified. 
His  disposition  was  uncommonly  patient,  placid,  benev- 


PRESBYTERIAN       CHURCH.  161 


olent,  disinterested  and  cheerful.  He  was  too  mild  to 
indulge  in  bitterness  or  severity."  Dr.  Blair  married 
the  daughter  of  John  Durburrow,  of  Philadelphia.  The 
Rev.  John  1).  Blair,  D.  D.,  of  Riehniond,  Va.,  was  his 
son.  His  daughter  was  married  to  the  Rev.  Dr.  William 
Linn,  one  of  his  successors  in  the  church  of  Big  Spring. 
His  jnddished  writings  are  Animadversions  on 
"Thoughts  on  the  Examination  and  Trials  of  Candi- 
dates," "The  Synods  of  New  York  and  Philadelphia 
Vindicated,"  "A  Treatise  on  Regeneration,"  "A  Treatise 
on  the  Nature  and  Use  of  the  Means  of  Grace." 


REV.    GEORGE    DUFFIELD,    I).    I>. 

Rev.  George  Duffield  was  born  in  Pequea  township, 
Lancaster  County,  Pa.,  October  7,  1782.  He  was  the 
third  son  of  George  and  IMargaret  Duffield  who  came  to 
that  place  from  the  north  of  Ireland,  between  1725  and 
17o0.  His  parents  were  of  French  Huguenot  extrac- 
tion, the  family  having  first  taken  refuge  in  England 
and  later  settled  in  the  north  of  Ireland.  The  name  was 
originally  Du  Field.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
pre[)ared  for  college  at  the  Academy  of  Newark,  Dele- 
ware,  and  graduated  at  Princeton  in  1752.  He  studied 
theology  under  Dr. Smith  at  Pequea;  w\as  tutor  in  Prince- 
ton College  from  1754  to  1756,  and  was  licensed  by  the 
Newcastle  Presbytery,  Ncav  Side,  March  11,  1756.  He 
was  called  to  the  churches  of  Big  Spring  and  Carlisle, 
New  Side,  some  time  in  1757,  but  was  not  ordained  un- 
til September,  1759.  In  17(58  Mr.  Duffield  was  called 
to  the  second  church  in  Philadelphia,  which  had  l)een 
organized  out  of  the  followers  of  Mr.  Whitefield,  and  of 
which  Rev.  (filbert  Tennent,  one  of  the  most  remark- 


162  THE      BIG      SPRING 


able  preachers  of  that  day  was  the  pastor.  This  call 
was  not  accepted,  and  in  1768  it  was  renewed,  but  Pres- 
bytery declined  to  place  it  in  his  hands.  In  1769  his 
relation  with  the  Big  Spring  church  was  dissolved,  and 
in  August  of  that  year  a  call  was  presented  for  one-third 
of  his  time  from  the  newly  organized  congregation  of 
Monaghan.  This  call  was  accepted  and  he  was  released 
from  Big  Spring  and  was  installed  there  Nov.  14,  1769. 
May  21,  1772,  a  call  was  presented  from  the  Third 
Presbyterian  Church  of  Philadelphia,  w^hich  after  much 
consideration  was  accepted.  He  was  installed  pastor  of 
that  church  notwithstanding  the  opposition  of  its  elders, 
the  Presbytery  and  the  trustees  of  the  First  Church,  and 
continued  in  this  relation  until  Iiis  death,  February  2, 
1790.  His  remains  w^ere  buried  beneath  the  central 
aisle  of  that  church.  Dr.  Duffield  was  a  man  of  ardent 
temperment,  an  earnest,  zealous  and  popular  preacher,  in 
hearty  sympathy  wdth  the  great  revival  movement,  and 
with  the  followers  of  Whitefield.  He  was  equally  zeal- 
ous and  patriotic  in  the  cause  of  his  country,  and  threw 
himself  with  all  the  ardor  of  his  nature  into  the  cause 
of  independence.  He  was  chosen  Chaplain  of  the  Con- 
tinental Congress,  and  was  often  found  following  the 
army,  doing  all  that  he  could  to  encourage,  comfort  and 
stimulate  the  soldiers,  and  in  preaching  to  them  the  gos- 
pel and  administering  to  them  its  consolations.  Dr. 
Duffield  was  the  first  stated  clerk  of  the  General  Assem- 
bly. He  was  twice  married,  first  to  a  daughter  of  the 
Rev.  Samuel  Blair.  She  died  September  25,  1757,  at 
Carlisle.  He  married  secondly  JMargaret,  sister  of  Gen- 
eral John  Armstrong,  of  Carlisle.  By  this  marriage  he 
left  U\o  children,  one  of  them  being  the  father  of  the 


PRESBYTERIAN       CHURCH.  Ifio 


late  Dr.  Duffiekl  of  Carlisle  and  Detroit. 


REV.    WILLIAM    LINN,    D.    D. 

Rev.  William  Linn  was  born  in  Lnrgan  township, 
Franklin  County,  Pa.,  February  27,  1752.  He  was 
the  oldest  son  of  William  Linn,  a  rulin<!;  elder  in  the 
Middle  Sprinp;  Presbyterian  Church.  His  mother  is  be- 
lieved to  have  (bed  in  8hippensburg,  Novend3er,  1755, 
where  the  family  had  taken  refuge  in  consequence  of  the 
Indian  raids  at  that  time.  His  grand  father  had  come 
from  Ireland  in  1732  and  settled  first  in  Chester  County, 
and  from  tlience  had  come,  prior  to  1750,  to  the  Cum- 
berland Valley  and  purchased  and  settled  upon  a  tract 
of  land  where  William  was  born.  After  persuing  a 
]H'eparatory  course  under  Rev.  George  Duffield  and  in 
the  school  of  Rev.  Robert  Smith,  at  Pequea,  Mr.  Linn 
entered  Princeton  College  and  graduated  in  the  class  of 
1772.  He  studied  theology  under  his  pastor,  Rev. 
Robert  Cooper,  D.  D.,  and  seems  to  have  been  licensed 
and  ordained  by  the  First  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia, 
or  that  of  New  Castle,  in  1775  or  1776,  and  was  ap- 
pointed Chaplain  to  the  Fifth  and  Sixth  Pennsylvania 
Battalions,  February  15,  1776.  Shortly  after  Magaws 
battalion  was  ordered  to  Canada,  when  Mr.  Linn  re- 
signed because  circumstances  would  not  admit  of  his 
protracted  absence  from  home.  He  received  a  call  to 
the  Big  Spring  Church,  April  9,  1777,  and  was  installed 
pastor  of  that  church  October  3,  1777.  Here  he  con- 
tinued until  1784,  performing  faithfully  the  duties  of 
j^astor  and  preacher.  He  was  then  elected  principal  of 
Washington  Academy,  Somerset  County,  jNId.  At  the 
end  of  one  year  on  account  of  sickness  in  his  family  he 


164  THE      BIG      SPRING 


was  obliged  to  resign  and  remove  from  that  region.  He 
accepted  a  call  to  the  Presbyterian  Church  at  Elizabeth- 
town,  N.  J.,  in  1786,  and  in  1787  he  was  called  to  be 
collegiate  pastor  of  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church  in  the 
city  of  New  York,  which  position  he  accepted  and  occu- 
pied until  1805.  After  entering  upon  his  work  here  he 
was  chosen  the  first  Cha])lain  to  Congress,  May,  1789. 
In  his  position  in  New  York,  Dr.  Linn  rose  to  great 
eminence  in  the  ministry,  find  attained  a  reputation 
tor  talents  and  eloquence  second  to  no  other  minister  at 
that  time  in  the  city.  Dr.  Linn  resigned  the  pastorate 
in  New  York  in  1805,  on  account  of  declining  health, 
and  removed  to  Albany,  N.  Y.  He  there  engaged  to 
supply  the  church,  preaching  once  each  Sabbath  for  one 
year.  In  the  meantime  he  was  chosen  president  of 
Union  College,  Schenectady,  N.  Y.,  but  was  unable  to 
accept  the  position  on  account  of  rapidly  failing  health. 
He  died  in  Albany,  January,  1808.  Dr.  Linn  Avas 
thrice  married,  first  January  10,  1774,  to  Rebecca, 
daughter  of  Rev.  John  Blair,  by  whom  he  had  seven 
children,  one  of  which  was  Rev.  John  Bkiir  Linn,  D.  D. 
He  married  secondly,  Catharine,  widow  of  Dr.  Moore, 
of  New  York  and  had  one  son.  He  married  thirdly, 
Helen  Hanson,  they  had  one  son. 


REV.    SAMUEL    WILSON. 

Rev.  Samuel  Wilson  was  born  1754,  in  Letterkenny 
township,  Cumberland,  noAV  Franklin  County,  Pa.,  in 
sight  of  the  old  Rocky  Spring  Church,  in  which  his  par- 
ents worshiped,  and  in  tlie  grave  yard  of  which  several 
generations  of  his  fimily  are  buried.  He  was  the  fourth 
son  of  John  Wilson,  a  farmer  of  Scotch  Irish  parentage. 


PRESBYTEKIAN       CHURCH.  165 


and  his  wife  Sarah  Reid.  The  youngest  son  of  the 
family  entered  the  army  where  he  contracted  camp  fever 
and  came  home  and  died  in  1778.  Samuel  attended 
his  brother  during  his  sickness  and  also  contracted  the 
disease  and  was  very  ill.  During  this  sickness  he  re- 
solved, if  his  life  was  spared,  to  devote  it  to  the  service 
of  God  in  the  work  of  the  christian  ministry.  Accord- 
ingly, on  his  recovery,  he  relinquished  farming  and 
went  to  Princeton  College,  from  which  he  was  gradu- 
ated in  1782.  He  studied  theology  under  Dr.  Cooper 
at  ^Middle  Spring;  was  licensed  by  the  Presbytery  of 
Donegal,  Octol)er  17,  1786;  called  to  be  pastor  of 
the  Big  Spring  Church,  and  ordained  and  installed  June 
20,1787.  "He  continued  to  labor  faithfully,  acceptably, 
and  usefully  in  the  Big  Spring  congregation  until  his 
death."  Soon  after  his  settlement  in  the  ministry  he 
married  Jane,  daughter  of  Archibald  ^lahon,  of  Ship- 
pensburg,  Pa.,  and  grand  daughter  of  David  and  Martha 
JNlahon,  of  Rai,  County  Donegal,  Ireland.  They  had 
two  children,  John,  who  died  January  80,  1800,  aged 
sixteen  years,  and  flane,  who  married  Dr.  William  M. 
Sharj),  of  Newville,  and  who  died  there  July,  1876.  A 
number  of  the  great  grand  cliildren,  and  great,  great 
grand  children  of  Rev.  Samuel  Wilson,  are  now  mem- 
bers of  the  Big  Spring  Church.  He  died  March  4, 
171M),  and  rests  beneath  a  large  marble  slab  which  the 
massive  walls  of  the  church  he  built  in  his  earl}^  minis- 
try shade  from  the  slanting  rays  of  the  setting  sun. 


iu:v.  .losHCA  willia:\is,  d.  d. 
Rev.  Joshua   Williams  was   of  Welsh  descent.     His 
grand  father,  Joshua,  came  to  this  country  prior  to  1764, 


166  THE       BIG       SPKIXG 

and  located  in  the  Welnli  settlement  in  Chester  County, 
Pa.  He  had  two  sons,  Louis  and  Joshua,  both  of  whom 
served  in  the  Revolutionary  war.  Louis  married  Mary 
Hudson  and  settled  at  Dillsburg,  York  County,  Pa., 
w^here  they  raised  a  family  of  eleven  children.  The 
Rev.  Joshua  was  the  third  son  and  was  ])orn  March  8, 
1768.  He  jH-epared  for  college  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  un- 
der the  tuition  of  Rev.  Mr.  Dobbin,  and  entered  Dickin- 
son College  from  which  he  was  graduated  1795.  He 
read  theology  under  Rev.  Dr.  Cooper,  at  Middle  Spring, 
and  was  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel  by  the  Presbytery 
of  Carlisle,  in  1797.  In  the  following  year  he  was  called 
to  become  the  pastor  of  the  churches  of  Paxton  and 
Derry,  and  was  ordained  and  installed  by  the  Presby- 
tery of  Carlisle,  October  2,  1799.  After  laboring  there 
with  increasing  usefulness  for  two  years,  he  received  a 
call  to  the  church  of  Big  Spring,  which  lie  accepted,  and 
was  installed  there  April  14,  1802.  Here  he  continued 
for  twenty-seven  years,  the  able  minister  and  faithful 
pastor  of  this  people,  when,  in  1829,  in  consequence  of 
imjiaired  health,  he  resigned. 

It  is  said  that  "few  men  in  tlie  ministr}^  of  the  Pres- 
byterian Church  of  the  eminent  talents,  learning,  piety 
and  usefulness  of  Dr.  Joshua  Williams,  were  so  little 
known  to  the  church  at  large.  This  was  doubtless  ow- 
ing to  the  quiet  and  retired  life  which  he  lived,  and  to 
the  absence  in  him  of  everything  like  a  spirit  of  self  as- 
sertion, or  obtrusiveness.  He  was  by  nature  possessed 
of  an  acute  and  vigorous  intellect.  His  judgment  was 
regarded  as  sound  and  discriminating,  and  he  had  a  re- 
mai-kable  taste  and  aptitude  for  metaphysical  reasoning. 
His  mind  was  richly  stored  with  the  results  of  extensive 


PRESBYTERIAN      CHURCir.  107 


reading,  cloye  observation  and  miu-li  reflection,  all  sys- 
tematically arranged  and  at  his  command.  As  a 
})reaclier  of  the  gospel,  Dr.  Williams  was  grave  and 
solemn  in  manner  and  richly  scri^jtiiral  and  instructive  in 
matter.  The  great  doctrines  of  the  cross  were  not  held 
by  him  as  mere  theoretical  beliefs,  but  constituted  the 
very  life  of  his  own  soul.  As  a  pastor  he  was  regular 
and  faithful  in  family  visitation  and  in  the  catechetical 
instruction  of  all  classes  of  people".  He  married,  June 
15,  1800,  Eleanor  Campbell,  who  died  April  28,  1856, 
aged  seventy-six  years.  They  had  six  sons  and  three 
daughters.  Dr.  Williams  died  Aug.  21,  1888,  and  rests 
in  the  grave  yard  of  the  Big  Spring  Church,  Newville. 


REV.    ROBERT    M  CACIIRAN. 

Rev.  Robert  McCachran  was  descended  from  a  Scotch 
ancestr3\  His  great  grand  father,  accompanied  by  his 
wife,  four  sons  and  one  daughter,  emigrated  from  Can- 
tyre,  near  Campl)ellstown,  Scotland,  about  1725,  and 
settled  in  the  Forks  of  the  Brandywine,  Chester  County, 
Pa.  Robert  McCachran,  the  second  son  of  John  Mc- 
Cachran and  Isabella  Cunningham,  was  born  at  the 
Forks  of  the  Brandywine,  Chester  County,  Pa.,  Septem- 
ber 24,  1798.  He  early  manifested  a  strong  desire  for 
a  liberal  education,  and  as  there  was  no  school  in  his 
immediate  neighborhood  where  the  higher  branches  of 
an  English  education  were  taught,  he  walked  daily  three 
miles  in  winter  to  a  school  affording  those  advantages. 
This  he  continued  to  do  for  some  time,  when  a  classical 
school  was  opened  at  Brandywine  manor,  by  the  Rev. 
John  Grier.  ISlr.  jNIcCachran  entered  this  school  and 
remained  there  until  its  removal  from  the   place,  when 


168  THE      BIG       SPEING 

he  entered  the  Academy  at  West  Nottingham,  Md.,  in 
charge  of  Rev.  James  W.  Magaw,  a  successful  and  po[)- 
ular  educator  in  those  times.  At  the  end  of  the  course 
of  study  in  this  Academy,  INIr.  McCachran  entered  the 
junior  class  in  Dickinson  College,  Carlisle,  where  he  re- 
ceived his  collegiate  training.  After  completing  his 
course  at  Dickinson,  he  taught  for  a  season  in  the  Acad- 
emy at  Newark,  Del.,  and  then  entered  Princeton  Theo- 
logical Seminary  in  1824,  from  which  he  was  graduated 
in  1827.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel  liy  the 
Presbytery  of  New  Castle,  April,  1827,  and  in  the  Au- 
tumn of  the  same  year  a  field  of  labor  was  opened  to 
him  at  Middletown,  DeleAvare  County,  Pa.  In  connec- 
tion with  his  Avork  in  this  church,  he  gave  half  of  his 
time  to  missionary  work  in  Deleware  and  adjoining 
counties.  He  was  ordained  at  New  Castle,  Del.,  May 
19,  1829.  In  1830,  because  of  ill  health,  he  resigned 
his  charge.  After  his  resignation  he  made  a  journey  on 
horse  back  in  quest  of  health  and  another  field  of  labor, 
up  through  Lancaster,  York,  Cumberland  and  Franklin 
counties,  preaching  as  the  opportunity  presented.  He 
preached  several  sermons  in  the  church  at  Newville, 
which  had  recently  become  vacant  by  the  resignation  of 
Kev.  Joshua  Williams,  and  so  pleased  were  the  people 
with  his  ministrations  that  they  gave  him  a  call  which 
was  accepted,  and  he  was  installed  pastor  of  that  church 
April  13,  1831.  Mr.  McCachran  labored  Avith  great 
diligence  and  success  in  the  Big  Si)ring  Church  for 
twenty-one  years,  resigning  October  8,  1851.  He  then 
turned  his  attention  to  the  establishment  of  a  classical 
school  for  the  training  of  young  men  for  college  and  the 
ministry.     He  erected  a  suitable  building  near  Newville 


Rev.    Philip    H.    Mowry,    D.    D. 


PRESBYTERIAN       CHURl'H.  171 


avIhtc  1k'  siRressfiilly  coiuliU'tcd  tlic  scliool  until  1864, 
when  it  was  discoiitiinu'd  iKraiist*  of  a  loss  of  students 
occasioned  hy  tlie  civil  war.  "]\lr.  IMcCacliran  was  a  man 
of  great  simplicity  of  cliai-actei-.  He  was  sincere  in  his 
religious  convictions  and  conscientious  in  the  i)erform- 
ance  of  duty.  He  was  well  read  in  the  ancient  classics 
and  in  the  works  of  tlie  old  divines  of  the  seventeenth 
centur}'.  He  was  in  the  constant  habit  of  daily  reading 
the  New  Testament  in  the  original  Greek  language.  As 
a  preachei"  he  was  sinij)le,  plain,  scriptural  and  orthodox. 
He  was  generally  regarded  as  excelling  most  of  his 
brethren  in  the  brevity,  comprehensiveness  and  felicity 
of  ex])ression  in  his  prayeis."  For  many  years  he  was 
stated  clerk  of  the  Presbytery,  and  always  an  active 
member  of  the  jstanding  committee  on  languages,  and 
conducted  his  examinations  with  due  consideration  and 
acceptableness.  In  his  j)rivate  life  he  was  ipiietly  and 
unostentiously  charitable  to  the  poor,  and  especially  so 
to  the  colored  })eo})le,  many  of  whom  were  greatly  as- 
sisted by  his  counsels  and  liberality."  It  can  be  truly 
said  of  him  that  his  entire  life  was  in  all  respects  most 
exemplary  and  blameless,  and  his  end  Avas  in  peace."  He 
died  February  "2'},  1885.  On  November  11,  1834,  he 
married  Jane  Laughlin,  who  was  born  August  3,  1802, 
and  died  Novend)er  27,  1871.  81ie  was  a  daughter  of 
Atchison  Laughlin,  a  ruling  elder  in  the  church.  To 
them  were  born  two  childien,  Mary  and  Robert,  the 
lallcr  is  now  a  successful  attorncy-at-law  in  Newville, 
and  re])resented  his  district  in  the  Legislature  of 
Pennsvlvania  from  1878  to  1882. 


REV.    JAMES    S.    11.    IIEXDERSOX. 


172  PRESBYTERIAN       CHURCH. 


Rev.  James  S.  H.  Henderson  was  born  in  Frederick 
County,  Md.,  September  20,  1815.  He  pursued  his  the- 
ological studies  in  Union  Theological  Seminary,  N.  Y,, 
and  Princeton  Seminary,  N.  J,,  graduating  from  the  lat- 
ter in  the  year,  1842.  He  was  ordained  by  the  Presby- 
tery, of  Nashville,  Tenn.,  1842,  and  spent  some  time  in 
home  missionary  work.  In  1844  he  was  installed  pas- 
tor of  the  Presl)yterian  Church  at  Augusta,  Ky.,  where 
he  remained  ten  years.  In  1852  he  accepted  a  call  to 
the  Big  Spring  Church,  New^ville,  Pa,  He  resigned  the 
church  at  Newville  in  1861,  and  removed  to  Montgom- 
ery County,  Md.,  where  he  became  stated  supply  of  the 
church  at  Neelsville.  He  ministered  to  this  congrega- 
tion for  nearly  eighteen  years,  until  his  death,  August 
17,  1882.  His  ministry  there  was  very  successfuL 
although  the  church  at  Neelsville  was  a  small  one.  He 
organized  a  congregation  at  Boyds  and  these  two  became 
one  pastorate.  Both  congregations  built  handsome 
church  edifices  prior  to  his  death  and  were  in  a  flourish- 
ing condition.  He  was  married  in  1842  to  Rosanna  J. 
Neel,  daughter  of  James  Neel,  one  of  the  original  mem- 
bers of  the  church  bearing  his  name,  who  with  a 
daughter  and  six  sons  survive  him.  One  of  the  latter  is 
a  clergyman  of  the  Presbyterian  Cliurch. 


REV.    PIITLir    H.    MOWRY,    P.    D. 

Rev.  Philip  Henry  Mowry  was  born  in  Allegheny, 
Pa.,  March  6,  1837.  His  flither,  a  graduate  of  the 
Western  University  of  Pennsylvania,  and  of  Jefferson 
Medical  College,  Philadelphia,  practiced  medicine  in  Al- 
legheny from  March,  1880,  until  his  death,  March  14, 
1895.     His  grand  father,  Philip  Mowry,  was  born  in 


PRESBYTERIAN       CHURCH.  17o 


Pittsburi;;,  Pa,,  1777,  where  liis  great  grand  fatlier, 
Christian  M.  Mo  wry,  a  soldier  of  tlie  RevoUitionary 
war,  settled  hut  a  short  time  before.  His  mother,  A. 
Rebekah  Riddle,  was  a  daughter  of  James  M.  Riddle,  a 
lawyer,  born  in  the  Chimberland  Valley,  and  wdio  set- 
tled in  Pittsburg  in  18P2,  after  marrying  Elizabeth 
Weaver,  of  CumbeT'land  County,  Pa.  Rev.  P.  H. 
iNIowry  graduated  from  Washington  College,  Cannons- 
burg,  in  18r)8,  and  from  the  Western  Theological  Sem- 
inary in  1S()1.  On  leaving  the  Theological  Seminary 
he  was  called  to  the  Fourth  Presbyterian  Church  of 
Philadel})hia  and  ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of  Phila- 
delphia, October  8,  1861,  and  at  the  same  time  installed 
pastor  of  the  church.  In  October,  1868,  he  was  called 
to  the  Big  Spring  Church,  Newville,  and  entered  uj)on 
his  ministerial  work  here  the  following  December.  After 
a  very  successful  })astorate  of  five  years  he  resigned  the 
Rig  Spring  Church  and  accepted  a  call  from  the  second 
Presbyterian  Church  of  Springfield,  Ohio.  He  remained 
in  Springfield  five  years  when  he  accepted  a  call  to  the 
First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Chester,  Pa.,  entering  upon 
his  pastoral  work  October  1,  1873.  There  he  remains 
greatly  beloved  by  his  people  and  respected  by  all.  Dr. 
Mowry  married,  October  2o,  1861,  Catharine  A.  daughter 
of  William  H.  Richardson  of  Greensburg,  Pa.  She  died 
January  '20,  1881,  leaving  children — Fllizabeth,  Henri- 
etta, Robert  Bruce,  Fred,  Philip,  Rebecca  and  jNIary. 
Dr.  Mowry  married  secondly,  April  18,  1889,  Sarah 
W.,  daughter  of  William  E.  Du  Bois,   of  Philadelphia. 


RFA".    F.I}ENi:ZER    P:R8KTNK,    P.    I). 

Rev.  Ebenezer  Erskine  is  a  son  of  John  Erskine  and 


174  THE      BIG       SPKING 


his  wife  Margaret  Trainer.  John  Erskine  wan  the  fifth 
in  descent  from  Rev.  Henry  Erskine,  father  of  Revs. 
Ebenezer  and  Ralph  Erskine,  founders  of  the  Secession 
Church,  of  Scotknd.  He  came  from  County  Down,  Ire- 
land, to  this  country  at  the  close  of  the  Revolutionary 
war,  and  after  remaining  for  a  time  in  Philadelphia,  set- 
tled in  Ridley  township,  Deleware  County,  Pa.  There 
the  subject  of  our  sketch  was  l)orn,  January  ol,  1821. 
He  prepared  for  college  in  the  celebrated  classical  school 
of  Joseph  P.  Engles  in  Philadelphia,  and  entered  Jeffer- 
son College,  in  1839,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in 
1848.  In  1844  and  1845  he  was  principal  of  the  Potts- 
town  Academy.  After  resigning  this  })Osition,  he  en- 
tered Princeton  Theological  Beminary  October,  1845, 
from  which  he  was  graduated  May,  1848.  He  was 
ordained  and  installed  pastor  of  the  Penn  Presbyterian 
Church,  Philadelphia,  September  11.  1849.  There  he 
remained  until  1851,  when  he  accepted  a  call  to  Colum- 
bia, Pa.  He  remained  as  })astor  of  the  church  at 
Columbia  until  1857,  when  he  resigned  to  accept  a  call 
to  the  Presbyterian  Church  at  Sterling,  111.  He  resigned 
the  church  at  Sterling  in  18(35,  to  undertake,  at  the  re- 
quest of  several  of  his  ministerial  brethren,  the  founding 
of  a  Presbyterian  College  in  Northern  Illinois.  TJiis  led 
to  the  establishment  by  him  of  the  "North  Western 
Presbyterion  "  at  C/hicago,  in  the  fall  of  18G5,  of  whicli 
he  was  editor  and  proprietor.  This  paj^er  was  a  means 
of  communication  with  the  cliurches.  The  attempted 
founding  of  the  college  was  delayed  on  account  of  the 
church  controversies  arising  out  of  the  civil  war,  the  re- 
union of  the  two  branches  of  the  Pres})yterian  Church, 
and   in  relation    to    the   Theological    Seminary    of  the 


PRESBYTERIAN       CllUIU'lf.  17-" 


Northwest.  In  1809  lie  neeepted  a  iinaninious  call  to 
become  pastor  of  the  J>ig  S])riiig  Presl)yteriaii  Churcli  in 
NewviHe,  where  he  yet  remains,  faithfully  diseharging 
his  ))a8toral  duties.  Dr.  P]rskine  has  occupied  many 
jiositions  of  importance  and  res})onsil)ility  in  the  Pres- 
hvterian  Church.  He  has  heen  moderator  of  the  Synod 
of  Harrisl)urg;  moderator  of  the  Synod  of  Pennsylvania; 
a  mend)er  of  five  tGeneral  Assemblies;  a  director  in  the 
North  Western  Theological  Seminary,  Chicago,  from 
l.S(>")  to  1(S()9,  and  has  been  a  director  of  Princeton  The- 
ological Seminary  for  the  past  twenty  years.  At  the 
meeting  of  (Tcneral  Assenddy  at  Paltimore,  1875,  he 
was  aj)pointed  a  mem])er  of  the  comnuttee  of  conference 
on  fraternal  relations  between  the  General  Assenddies 
north  and  south.  At  the  meeting  of  General  Assembly 
at  Saratoga,  in  1890,  he  was  chairman  of  the  committee 
on  revision  that  rej^orted  the  plan  of  revision  to  the 
General  Assembly  which  was  unanimously  adopted.  He 
was  also  author  of  the  resolution  instructing  the  com- 
mittee on  revision  not  to  report  anything  that  would  im- 
pair the  integrity  of  the  Reformed  or  Calvinistic  S3^stenl 
as  set  forth  in  the  confession  of  faith.  He  was  also  a 
mend)er  of  the  permanent  committee  on  the  revision  of 
the  AVestminster  Confession  of  Faith  which  continued  its 
work  for  two  years,  and  on  its  being  reported  to  the 
General  Assembly  and  handed  down  to  the  Presbyteries 
was  not  accepted.  Dr.  Erskine  and  Drs.  Patton  and 
Cireen  of  Princeton  were  among  the  conservative  mem- 
hers  of  the  connnittee  and  unfavorable  to  some  of  the 
changes  reconnnended  by  the  majority.  In  1889  Dr. 
Erskine  together  with  Dr.  George  Norcross  and  Rev. 
Mr.  West  [>ublislied  a  history  of  the  Carlisle  Presbytery 


176  THE       BIG       SPRING 


including  biographical  sketches  of  deceased  members. 
This  is  a  very  full  and  complete  work,  the  result  of  much 
pains  taking  labor,  and  a  valuable  contribution  to  the 
history  of  Presbyterian  ism  in  this  countr}-. 

Possessing  more  than  ordinary  intellectual  endow- 
ments, Dr.  Erskine  ranks  high  in  the  Presbyterian 
Church  as  a  well  read  and  sound  tlieologion.  He  is  a 
man  of  strong  and  decided  convictions,  and  of  great 
courage  and  strength  of  purpose.  His  sermons  are  full 
of  thought  and  instruction;  his  matter  solid  and  rewards 
the  attention  of  those  who  are  serious  and  thoughtful 
and  who  care  more  for  sound  scriptural  and  theological 
instruction,  than  for  ornaments  of  rhetoric  and  mere 
empty  declamation.  He  is  noted  for  a  remarkably  clear 
voice,  an  earnest,  persuasive  and  impressive  manner  well 
adapted  to  his  matter.  He  is  faithful  and  conscientious 
in  the  discharge  of  all  his  ministerial  work  allowins; 
nothing  to  interfere  with  what  he  considers  duty. 

Dr.  Erskine  married,  October  7,  1874,  Helen  M., 
daughter  of  James  and  Margaret  (Sharp)  McKeehan, 
a  descendent  of  two  of  the  oldest  and  most  respected 
families  in  the  vicinity  of  Newville.  They  have  two 
daughters,  Helen  and  INlary,  residing  at  home. 


. — ^c=c>.i3lI».{?<;p^^^^>^^§-<|i-<:^^4=^X}-«^ — • 


THE      BIG       SPKING  177 

IN  THE  GRAVE  YARD. 

The  earliest  burials  clustered  around  the  old  oak  tree 
with  its  l)roa(l  s[)readini;'  branches  in  the  south-eastern 
]>art  of  the  i!;raveyard,  and  near  where  the  old  log 
church  stood.  To  the  superficial  observer,  there  seems 
to  be  nuicli  unoccu])ied  space  there,  but  this  is  not  the 
case.  In  nearly  every  foot  of  ground  rests  the  remains 
of  the  pioneer  settlers  and  their  children,  although  no 
tablet  luai'ks  their  resting  place.  There  are  very  few"  of 
the  first  and  second  generations  of  the  residents  of  this 
section  who  sleep  in  marked  graves.  Among  many  we 
have  in  mind,  we  mention  the  Fenton  family  of  thirty 
persons,  the  grave  of  not  one  of  whom  is  marked.  The 
first  of  the  family  was  Samuel  Fenton.  His  son  Sam- 
uel was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  Avar,  and  his 
son  James  was  a  Colonel  in  the  war  of  1812.  In  the 
]irogress  of  time,  the  graveyard  gradually  extended 
towards  the  church,  the  lower  or  south  and  eastern  part 
bordering  upon  the  spring,  being  very  rocky,  was  used 
as  quarries  from  an  early  date,  and  thus  became  a  source 
of  revenue  to  the  church.  In  18G8,  that  portion  was 
sold  off,  leaving  sixteen  feet  along  the  fence  for  a  road. 
In  1 858,  the  western  side  of  the  graveyard  was  made  on 
a  line  with  the  eastern  side  of  Corporation  street.  This 
change  in  the  boundary,  left  a  number  of  graves  of 
colored  peo})le  outside  of  the  enclosure  in  that  part  of 
the  street  between  the  fence  and  the  property  now  owned 
by  Sanuiel  Ernst.  The  first  record  we  find  of  an  en- 
closure, is  Sept.  17115,  when  Archibald  McCoy  was  paid 
fi)r  'MS  perch  of  stone,  at  one  dollar  and  forty  cents 
]>cr  perch,  for  a  graveyard  wall.  Four  years  later,  the 
trustees  "Resolved  to  cover  the  graveyard  wall    and   en- 


178  THE       BIG      SPRING 


close  a  yard  around  the  meeting  house."  Home  okl  per- 
sons remember  when  they  were  young,  of  seeing  the  re- 
mains of  this  wall  on  the  south  side  oi'  the  graveyard, 
along  the  spring,  near  the  water's  edge,  and  to  this  day 
can  be  seen  running  east  and  west,  through  the  grave- 
yard, about  forty  feet  from  the  present  fence  dividing 
the  church  from  the  graveyard,  a  ridge  of  stone  covered 
with  earth  ami  grass,  which  was  doubtless  the  founda- 
tion of  the  wall.  This  ridge  extends  from  the  eastern 
extremity  of  the  graveyard,  west  to  the  Boyd  lot  where 
it  is  broken  by  the  terracing  of  the  lot. 


OUK    FATHERS     RESTINCt    PLACE. 


BY   )!KI-rJC  M    KINNEY  SWUPK. 


Tall  trees  lift  vip  their  to\verin<,'  heads 

As  if  upon  the  sky  to  trace 

Their  shades,  and  o'er  the  church  they   sherl 

A  stately  dipjnity  and  grace. 

Within  those  ancient  walls  of  stone, 

Each  generation  as  it  passed. 

Found  Christ's  own  hlootl  could  guilt  atone, 

At  His  blest  feet  their  burdens  cast. 

And  drifting  silently  away, 

Time  faded  into  endless  day. 

On  the  sloping  turf  by  the  old  gray  walls, 
The  sunlight  casts  its  slanting  beams 
Across  the  path  where  the  shadow  falls. 
And  touches  the  graves  viith  golden  streams. 
The  soft  wind  sighing  among  the  pines 
Whispers  of  perfect  peace  o'erhead, 
And  the  spring  as  onward  it  slowly  winds 
Murmurs  a  requiem  for  the  dead. 
Its  waters  caressing  the  grassy  steep 
Where  heroes  and  loved  ones  sweetly  sleep. 

Ivife's  turmoil  in  each  year  that  passes. 
Disturbs  no  rest  in  that  calm  s])ot, 
And  silently  the  waving  grasses 


PRESBYTERIAN       CHURCH.  170 


Mark  moutuls  of  earth  too  .soon  forgot. 
Some  slumber  on  in  nameless  places, 
Some  lie  'ueath  monuments  of  stone, 
.\nd  hearts  were  sore  to  lose  the  faces 
That  gather  now  around  the  throne. 
Peaceful  the  soldier's  quiet  sleep, 
Laurels  of  fame  his  winding  sheet. 

Oh.  sacred  spot  of  hallowed  sorrow 

Guard  well  the  dust  in  thine  embrace; 

The  brightness  of  a  glail  tomorrow 

Dawns  o'er  our  fathers'  slumbering  place. 

Thrice  holy  sejtulchre,  to  thy 

Blest  shadows  tender  memory  twines. 

Where  pastors  in  thy  bosom  lie. 

And  consecrated  earth  enshrines. 

Faithful  they  were  who  rest  from    the  strife, 

'Neath  the   sha<les   where   they   offered    the 

Bread  of  J.ife. 

Fair  home  for  the   reapers'   treasured   spoils 
Life's  sweetest  hopes  lie  in  thy  breast. 
And  mortals  cease  from  wearied  toils, 
For  unto  all  He  giveth  rest. 
Time  steals  no  beauty  and  the  air 
Breathes  heavenlv  benedictions  there. 


INSCRIPTIONS    FROM    TOMBSTONES    OF    PERSONS    BORN 
PRIOR    TO    1800. 

Adnms,  Robert,  b.  Oct.  2,  1798;  d.  May  14,  1874. 

Adams,  Margaret,  b.  1766;  d.  1840. 

Allen,  John,  b.  1791;  d.  Feb.  10,  1817. 

Allen,  James  W.,  1).  June  25,  1789;  d.  June  19,  1869. 

Auxer,  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Geo.,  b.  Oct.  2,  1796;  d.  April 

11,  1845. 
Wiwv,  Sarah,  dau.  of  Dr.  John  Geddes,  b.  1802;  d.  Jan. 

27,  1888. 
]>arr,  Alexander,  b.  17()4;  d.  Hept.  4,  1881. 
i^ryson,  William,  1).  1728;  d.  June  13,  1800. 
Brownson,  Mary,  dau.  of  Thomas,  b.  1764;  d.  Sept.  8, 


180  THE       BIG       SPRING 


1807. 

Brown,  James,  b.  Dee.  81,  1778;  d.  Get.  11,  1822. 
Brown,  Martlia,  wife   of  James,  b.  Aug.  10,  1792;  d. 

Feb.  7,  1852. 
Brown,  John,  b.  Sept.  ID,  1752;  d.  Jan.  10,  1842. 
Brown,  Margaret,  wife  of  John,  b.   1748;  d.  Sept.  17, 

1886. 
Brown,  Mary,  b.  April  12,  1788;  d.  Sept.  16,  1862. 
Brown,  James,  b.  1777;  d.  July  81,  1862. 
Brown,  Nancy,  wife  of  James    b.  July  5,  1800;  d.  Oct. 

15,  1835.  . 
Brown,  William,  1).  1797;  d.  May  18,  1864. 
Brown,  Jane,  wife  of  William,^ b.  Sept.  21,    1802;  d. 

Mar.  10,  1877. 
Brown,  Rachel,  b.  1769;  d.  Mar.  24,  1805. 
Brown,  Joseph,  b.  1777;  d.  July  81,  1862. 
Brown,  Nancy,  wife  of  Josepli,  1).  July  8,  1800;  d.  Oct. 

18,  1885. 
Bratton,  Adam,  b.  1741;  d.  June  6,  1820. 
Bratton,  Ann,  wife  of  Adam,  h.  1752;  d.  Dec.  26,  1840. 
Bratton,  Samuel,  b.  1796;  d.  Aug.  16,  1864. 
Bratton,  William,  b.  1791;  d.  Mar.  11,  1862. 
Bratton,  George,  b.  1784;  d.  Sept.  18,  1860. 
Bratton,  Mary,  b.  1786;  d.  July  28,  1857. 
Bratton,  Eleanor,  dau.  of  Adam,  b.  1780;  d.  Sept.  20, 

1848. 
Bratton,  William,  son  of  Adam,  b.  1796. 
Buchanan,  Mary,  b.  1768;  d.  Oct.  16,  1828. 
Buchanan,  William,  d.  July  7,  1843. 
Buchanan,  Ezekiel,  d.  Aug.  81,  1831. 
Buchanan,  Robert,  d.  May  8,  1888. 
Buchanan,  Elizabeth,  d.  Aug.  25,  1863. 


PRESBYTERIAN      CHURCH.  181 


Buchanan,  Gen.  Tlionias,  b.  1747;  d.  Oct.  13,  1823.  (A 

soldier  of  the  Revolutionary  War.) 
Binner,  Marv  E.,  b.  1772;  d.  Aug.  1853. 
Boyd,  William,  b.  Jan.  5,  1778;  d.  Fel).  2,  1846. 
Boyd,  Martha,  wife  of  William,  b.  Dec.   14,    1779;  d. 

Apr.  8,  1848. 
Butler,  Samuel,  b,  P^eb.  2,  1778;  d.  Apr.  27,  1850. 
Butler,  Sallie,  wife  of  Samuel,  b".  Apr.  4,  1793;  d.  Mar. 

15,  1881. 
Carnahan,  Judith,  wife  of  Robert,  b.  1763;  d.  May  21, 

1835. 
Carnahan,  jNFary,  wife  of  William,  b.   1793;  d.  Sept.  7, 

1823. 
Garson,  Hannan,  b.  1774;  d.  April  5,  1844. 
Garson,  Priseilla,  b.  1791;  d.  Aug.  l(i,  1864. 
Campbell,  William,  b.  Oct.   26,  1789;  d.  Apr.  1,  1864. 
Cobean,  William,  b.  1795;  d.  Aug.  (5,  1859. 
Cobean,  Mar}'  McFarlane,  wife  of  William,  b.  1805;  d. 

Oct.  4,  1855. 
Conway,  Mary,  b.  1765;  d.  May  8,  1823. 
Cook,  Sanuiel,  b.  1799;  d.  July  18,  1841. 
Cook,  Jane,  b.  1794;  d.  Aug.  31,  1843. 
Cox,  Mary,  b.  1800;  d.  Dec.  3,  1866. 
Davidson,  George,  b.  Oct.  27,  1777;  d.  June  12,  1856. 
Davidson,  Jane,   wifi'  of  (leorge,  b.  Mar.   13,  1779;   d. 

Dec.  (),  1863. 
Davidson,  Ann,  b.  Nov.,  1788;  d.  Feb.  16,  1866. 
Davidson,  John,  b.  Dec.  15,  178(>;  d.  Jan.  9,  1840. 
David.son,  Eleanor  ]{.,  b.  Apr.  15,  1797;  d.  Jan.  3,  1877. 
Davidson,  James,  b.  1790;  d.  Sept.  27,  1858. 
Davidson,  Ann,  wife  of  James,  b.  1794;  d.  June  8, 1827. 
Davidson,  Ann,  wife  of  James,  b.  1791;  d.  Sept.l7,  1867. 


182  THE       BIG       .SPRING 


Davidson,  William,  b.  Dec.  2.  1788;  d.  Aug.  25,  1843. 
Davidson,  Mary,  wife  of  William,  b.  Nov.  18,  1796;  d: 

Apr.  3,  1848. 
Davidson,  Alexander,  b.  June  14,  1787;  d.Oet.  19,1865. 
Davidson;  Jane,   wife   of  Alex.,  b.  Nov.   29,   1790;  d. 

Aug.  19,  1879. 
Davidson,  John,  b.  1743;   d.  1823. 
Davidson,  John,  b.  Feb.  27,  1772;  d.  May  10,  1810. 
Davidson,  li^lizabeth  Young,  wife  of  John,  b.  1772;  d. 

Sept.  14,  1823. 
Denning,  William,   b.   1737;  d.  Dec.  19,   1830.     (The 

maker  of  the  first  wrought-iron  cannon  of  the  Revo- 
lutionary War.) 
Dougherty,  George,  d.  aged  82  years. 
Dougherty,  Rachel,  wife  of  Geo.,  b.  1789;  d.  1856. 
Duey,  Conrad,  b.  1769;  d.  Oct.  15,  1833. 
Duey,  Rachel,  wife  of  Conrad,  b.  1779;  d.  Feb.  22, 1854. 
Dunbar,  Isabella,  b.  1799;  d.  Sept.  25,  1824. 
Dunbar,  Mary,  b.  1772;  d.  Jan.  30,  1830. 
Dunbar,  John,  b.  1767;  d.  Oct.  18,  1829. 
Duncan,  Eliza  Smith,  wife  of  Capt.  David,  1).  June  8, 

1789;  d.  Aug.  7,  1863. 
Ewing,   Elizabeth,  dau.   of  Geo.  Gillespie,  b.  1790;  d. 

Jan.  16,  1846. 
Elliott,  Nancy,  b.  1772;  d.  Apr.  16,  1798. 
Elliott,  Thomas,  b.  1787;  d.  Mar.  19,  1849. 
Elliott,  Mrs.   Elizabeth,  1>.  July  13,  1794;  d.  Feb.  19, 

1859. 
Ferguson,  William,   b.   1758;  d.   Apr.  23,   1834.      (A 

soldier  in  Revolution,  and  maker  of  the  carriages  for 

the  cannon  of  William  Denning.) 
Fulton,  Francis,  b.  1764;  d.  Oct.  16,  1843. 


PRESBYTERIAN      CHURCH.  183 


Fulton,  Sarali,  wife  of  Fniiicis,  b.  1768;  d.  Aug.  4,1834. 
Fulton,  Jiinies,  1).  Ot.  10,  1795;  d.  Aug.  17,  18()0. 
(;:iill)r:iitli,  Willinm,  1).  1731;  d.  Nov.,  1815. 
(};iill)niitli,  Sarah,  wife  of  William,  b.  Oct.  4,  1748;  d. 

Jan.  1>2,  1827. 
Geddes,  Dr.  John,  b.  Aug.  16,  1766;  d.  Dec.  5,  1840. 
Geddes,  KH/alx-th  lV('l)les,  b.  Fel).  8,  1772;  d.  May  20, 

183<). 
Geddes,  Dr.  John  P.,  b.  Oct.  10,  1799;  d.  Dec.  8,  1837. 
Geese,  Christian,  b.  Jan.  17,  1788;  d.  Nov.  24,  1814. 
(liffin,  Catharine,  b.  1786;  d.  Jan.  15,  1834. 
Gillespie,  Nathaniel,  b.  1744;  d.  Aug.  16,  1824. 
Gillespie.  JNIartha,  b.  Apr.  20,  1747,  d.  June  25,  1819. 
Gillespie,  Ann,  b.  1782;  d.  Nov.  16,  1827. 
Gillespie,  Nancy,  b.  1786;  d.  Aug.  21,  1835. 
Glenn,  Alexander,  b.  Feb.  22,  1787;  d.  Nov.  13,  1835. 
Glenn,  Maria,  wife  of  Alexander,  b.   May  17,  1792;  d. 

May  28,  1841. 
Graham,  Martha,  b.  1731;  d.  July  22,  1779. 
Graliam,  James,  b.  1725;  d.  Sept.  2,  1807. 
Graham,  Isaiah,  b.  1769;  d.  Aug.  27,  1835. 
Graham,  Nancy,  wife  of  Isaiah,   b.  Aug.  17,   1772;    d. 

Fel).  17,  1841. 
Graham,  Nancy,  b.  June  17,  1798;  d.  Jan.  19,  1863. 
(Graliam,  Robert,  b.  1800;  d.  Jan.  24,  1873. 
Graham,  Eliza,  wife  of  Robert,  b.  1799;  d.  Dec.  6, 1855. 
Green,  John,  1).  Aug.,  1769;  d.  Feb.  12,  1846. 
Harlan,  James,  b.  1791;  d.  June  21,  1832. 
Harlan,  George,  b.  Jan.  13,  1794;  d.  Mar.  11,  1873. 
Harlan,  Eliza])eth  H.,  wife  of  George,  b.  Apr.  9,  1811; 

(1.  Aug.  9,  1858. 
Harlan,  Ruth,  b.  .Mar.  15,  1792;  d.  Feb.  2,  1854. 


184  THE       BIG      SPRING 


Hays,  Patrick,  b.  1760;  d.  July  28,  1856. 

Hays,  Margaret  Mickey,  wife  of    Patrick,    b.    1770;    cl. 

Jan.  25,  1837. 
Haiina,  Samuel,  b.  1792,  cl.  Fel).  8,  1825. 
Hamia,   Else,    wife  of  Samuel,    b.    1772;    cl.    Feb.    10, 

1850. 
Haiina,  Jolni,  ]).  1765;  cl.  Oct.  11,  1823. 
Hamil,  Mary,  wife  of  Wm.,  b.  1787;  d.  Oct.    13,    1811. 
Hackett,  Henry  G.,  b.  Feb.  12,  1792;  d.  Dec.   7.    1845. 
Hackett,  Mary,  wife  of  Henry,  b.  Dec.  4,  1794;  d.  Sept. 

28,  1854. 
Harper,  John,  husband  of  Jean,  who,  his  journey    fin- 
ished and  got  to  his  rest  Sept.  12,  1804,  aged  73   yrs. 
Harper,  Robert,  b.  1770;  d.  Nov.  19,  1802. 
Harper,  Samuel,  b.  1775;  d.  Apr.  15,  1802. 
Harper,  Sarah,  wife  of  Samuel,  b.    1768;    d.    Mar.    H\ 

1848. 
Harper,  David,  h.  1774;  d.  June  3,  1801. 
Harper,  Maj.  John,  b.  Nov.  29,  1793;  d.  Oct.  11,   1846. 
Harper,  Andrew,  1).  1799;  d.  Jan.  19,  1827. 
Harper,  Elizabeth,  b.  July  1806;  d.  Oct.  10,  1827. 
Harper,  William,  b.  1761-  d.  INIay  18,  1824. 
Harper,  Esther,  wife  of  Wm.,    b.    1762;    d.    Apr.    13, 

1827. 
Harper,  Jean,  wife  of  John,  b.  1735;  d.  Mar.  16,   1808. 
Hari^er,  James,  b.  1757;  d.  Fel).  13,  181(i. 
Harper,  JNIargaret,  dan.  of  James  b.    1798;    d.    Aug.    8, 

1817. 
Harper,  John,  b.  June  22,  1795;  d.  June  5,  1847. 
Harper,  Margaret,  wife  of  eJohn,  and  dan.   of   John,    of 

Adams  Co.,  b.  1811;  d.  May  21,  1836. 
Harper,  Elzabeth,,  wife  of  John,  b.  1772;    d.   Mar.    27, 


PRESBYTERIAN       CHURCH.  185 


IcSlP,. 

House,  John,  I).  1782;  (1.    Nov.,    1872.       (A    soldier    of 

tl.c  Warof  1812.) 
House,  Elizal)etli,  wife  of  John,  1).  1784;  d.  1863. 
Hustou,  Jauies,  b.  1784;  d.  June  17,  1825. 
Huston,  James,  b.  1782;  d.  June  17,  1828. 
Hunter,  Joseph,  b.  177-");  d.  June  28,  1835. 
Hood,  Josiali,  b.  An-    11,  17l>4;  d.  Oct.  2,  1873. 
Hood,  Sarah,  wife  of   Josiah,    b.    Sept.    28,    1794;    d. 

Mar.  18,  1852. 
Hefflenian,  Michael,  b.  Mar.  9,  1780;  d.  July  24,  1845. 
Heffleman,  Mary,  wife  of  Michael,  b.  Dec.  22,  1785;  d. 

Fel).  2,  1837." 
Heap,  John. 

Irvine,  Samuel,  b.  1747;  d.  Mar.  9,  1806. 
Irvine,  Mary,  wife  of  Samuel,  b.  1744:  d.  Oct.  28,  1819. 
Irvine,  MisJ  Eutli,  b.  July,  1777;  d.  Dec.  21,  1859. 
Irvine,  Rosaona,  Avife  of  Samuel,  b.   1797;  d.  April  4, 

1834. 
Irvine,  Samuel,  1).  1785;  d.  May  10,  1849. 
Irvine,  Isabella,  wife  of  Samuel,  b.   1803;  d.  July  12, 

1839. 
Irvine,  ^largaret  McClelland;   wife  of  Samuel,  b.  Sept. 

21,  1803;  d.  Sept.  2,  188(3. 
Irwin,  James,  h.  1776;  d.  Feb.  22,  1854. 
Ii-win,  Prudence,  b.  1784;  d.  Oct.  20,  1818. 
Jacobs,  Adam,  b.  Oct.,  1787;  d.  Aug.  17,  1872. 
Jacobs,  Marjory,  wife  of  Adam,  b.  July  1,  1795;  d.  Apr. 

30,  1865.' 
Jacobs,  Sarah  Leuney,  wile  of  Adam,  b.  1787;  d.  Aug. 

30,  1834. 
Jacob,  Joseph,  b.  1782;  d.  Oct.  9,  1864. 


186  THE       BIG      HPKING 


Jacob,  Lydia,  wife  of  Joseph,  b.  1785;  d.  Dec.  20,  1849. 
Johnson,  John,  b.  1780;  d.  Sept.  8,  1841. 
Johnson,  EUzabeth,  b.  1788;  d.  Unr.  2,  1847. 
Kelley,  John,  b.  1791;  d.  March  1,  1804. 
Kelley,  Grizelda,  b.  179H;  d.  March  23,  1864. 
Ker,  Sarah,  wife  of  Alex.,  b.  1784;  d.  June  29,  1838. 
Ker,  William,  1).  Jan.  1,  1755;  d.  Oct.  8,  1845. 
Ker,  William,  b.  Oct.  30,  1791;  d.  Sept.  20,  1874. 
Ker,  Eliza   B.,  wife  of  William,  b.  Sei)t.  16,  1806;  d. 

Dec.  24,  1844. 
Kennedy,  Thomas,  1).  1744;  d.  1831. 
Kennedy,  Margaret,  wife  of  Thomas,  b.  1759;    d.  Jan, 

16,  1826. 
Kilgore,  William,  b.  1756;  d.  Oct.  11,  1823. 
Kilgore,  Isabella,  wife  of  William,  b.  Oct.  1761;  d.  Feb. 

18,  1826. 
Kilgore,  Jesse,  b.  Dec.  13,  1773;  d.  Aug.  19,  1823. 
Kilgore,  James,  b.  March  20,  1771;  d.  Dec.  5,  1834. 
Kilgore,  Bobert,  b.  Sept.  7,  1799;  d.  Aug.  27,  1878. 
Kinsley,  John,  b.  1780;  d.  Dec.  13,  1851. 
Klink,"^ George,  b.  May  23,  1792;  d.  Jan.  30,  1869. 
Klink,  Elizabeth,  wife  of  George,  b.  1795;   d.  March  24, 

1875. 
Knight,  Thomas  H.,  b.  Nov.  8,  1795;  d.  Apr.  30,  1852. 
Knight,  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Thomas,  b.  Mar.  11,  1805;  d. 

Apr.  17,  1863. 
Knettle,  Henry,  b.  1774;  d.  July  5,  'iS4r). 
Knettle,  Hannah,  wife  of  Henry,  b,   1778;  d.  Oct.  27, 

1854. 
Koons,  Isaac,  b.  Sept.,  1792;  d.  Nov.  19,  1874. 
Laughlin,  James,  b.  Sept.   14,  1783;  d.  Feb.  11,  1851. 
Laughlin,  Atcheson,  b.  1756;  d.  Jan.  11,  1825. 


PREKI5YTKKIA.V       CIHIK  H.  189 


LiUii;liliii,  M;irv,  wife  of  Atclicsoii,  1..  ITflO;   d.  Oct.  22, 

1842. 
L;iu-liliii,  AVilliani  K.,  1..  Vv\k  C,  17S1;  d.  Fcl).  12,  1835. 
L;iui;li]iii,  JjiiiK's,  1).  April  IS,  1770;   d.  18r)2. 
]j;iiii;Iiliii,  rioliii,  1).  i\l;ii('li  1"),  177'");   died  ;it  se;i. 
Ltmoldiii,  AVilli:mi  1).  An--.  17,  1778;  d.  duiic  21 ,  1844. 
L;iiii;liliii,  dniiics,   1).   Si'j)t.    14,    178');   d.    I'd).  11,  1851. 
Liiughlin,  AgiK's,  1).  Aug.  7,  171)4;  d.  Aug.  18,  1871. 
Laughliu,  P:iiz;dH'tli,  b.  Nov.  1(),  171H);  d.  Feb.  21, 1864. 
Laughliii,  Atdiesoii,  b.  Vvh.  8,  1799;  d.  July  7,  1876. 
Laird,  C'atliarine,  b.  Juue,  17()4;  d.  fhiiie  lo,  1850. 
Laird,  Hugh,  ]).  1787;  d.  Sept.  oO,  1815. 
Laird,  Thomas,  b.  1794;  d.  April  19,  1880. 
Laird,  James,  Es(j.,  1).  1753;  d.  (At.  10,  1884. 
Laird,  Robert,  b.  1789;  d.  Jan.  15,  1848. 
Lenney,  Isaac,  h.  1793;  d.  Aug.  14,  1848. 
Lenuey,  Haunah,   wife  of   Isaac,  b.   1797;  d.  Aug.  16, 

1869. 
Lenney,  Elizabeth,  b.  1782;  d.  Jan.  17,  1847. 
Lenney,  iSarah,  wife  of  Adam  Jacobs,  b.  1787;  d.  Aug. 

30,  1834. 
Lenney,  William,  b.  1782;  d.  Oct.  20,  1823. 
Lenney,  Sarah,  wife  of  William,  b.  1789;  d.  March,  17, 

1862. 
Leckey,  Haiah  J].,  b.  Sept.  1,  1789;  d.  Oct.  6,  1823. 
Leckey,  Alexander,  b.  1740;  d.  Mar.  16,  1818. 
Leckey,  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Alexander,  b.  1765;  d.  Nov. 

16,  1817. 
Leckey,  Daniel,  I).  Sept.  4,  1783;  d.  March  3,  1854. 
Leckey,  Ann  Davidson,  wife  of  Daniel,  d.  Sept.  5,  1843. 
Leckey,  Sarah;  dau.  of  Alexander,  b.  July  5,  1787;    d. 

Dec.,  1859. 


190  TJIE       BIG       SPRING 


Leckey,  Isabella,  b.  1799;   d.  Dee.  1862. 
Leckey,  8arab,  b.  July  5,  1787;  d.  Dec.  1859. 
Lindsay,  William,  b.  July  (3,  1798;  d.  Jan.  23,  1838. 
Lindsay,  Mary  Forbes,  wife   of  William,   b.  April   27, 

178(5;  d.  Oct.  26,  1842. 
Lindsay,  Jane,  b.  Oct.  1760;  d.  INIay  4,  1837. 
Logan,  James,  b.  1782;  d.  Oct.  26,  1828. 
Logan,  Alexander,  b.  July  22,  1795;  d.  Nov.  12,   1870. 
Logan,  Martha,  wife  of  Alex,  b.  1797;  d.  Nov.  7,  1873. 
MaUiers,  William,  b.  1760;  d,  Oct.  18, 1850. 
McCacliran,  Isabella,  1:».   at   Abbington,    near   Philadel- 
phia, Jan.  8,  1765;  d.  Jan.  12,  1851. 
McCachran,  Rev.  Eobert,  h.  Sept.  24,  1796;  d.  Fel).   25, 

1885.     (Pastor  of  Big  Spring  Presbyterian  Cluircli.) 
McCachran,  Jane  Laughlin,    wife   of    Rev.    Robert,    b. 

Aug.  3,  1802;  d.  Nov.  27,  1871. 
McCachran,  James,  b.  Jan.  1,  1797;  d.  Aug.   25,    1885. 
McCachran,  Rachel,  wife  of  James,    b.    Feb.    1803;    d. 

Dec.  22,  1859. 
McCormick,  Samuel,  b.  1726;  d.  Sept.  4,  1803. 
McCormick,  Eliza]:>etli,  wife  of  Samuel,  h.  1727;  d.  Oct. 

7,  1811. 
McCormick,  Thomas,  b.  May  29,  1766;  d.  Jan.  lij,  1835. 
McCormick,  Margaret  Young,  wife  of  Thomas,   b.  Jan. 

20,  1766;  d.  Feb.  20,  1824. 
McCandlish  William,  b.  1768;  d.  Apr.  9,  1827. 
McCandlish,  Jane,  wife  of  William,  b.    1781;    d.    Aug. 

4,  1827. 
McCandlish,  Maria,  wife  of  John,  b.    1802;  d.   Oct.    1, 

1827. 
McCulloch,  James,  son  of  John.  b.    1761;  d.   Aug.    13, 

1825. 


tf^ 


y  rRENJiYTKUIAN      (IHIRCH.  191 


MeCulloeli,  Swu  IIi-ihUtsuii,    wife    of    John,    ]).    1773; 

(1.  June  24,  1(S47. 
McCiilhx'li,  John,  1).  1741;  d.  May  U),  1808. 
McCulloch,  Elizah(.(h    Hueston,  wife  of  John,  b.  1740; 

d.  181:5. 
MeCulloeli,  William,  h.  1778;  d.  Nov.  8,  1824. 
MeCidloeh,  8arah  M.,  b.  1782;  d.  April  4,  1834. 
McCulloch,  John,  of  Dickinson,  b.  1771;  d.  Feb.  5,  1847. 
McCulloch,  Mary  Williamson,  wife  of  John,  b.  1773;  d. 

Sept.  o,  ]8()2. 
McCulloch,  David,  )).  Dec.  K;,  171)8;  d.  Nov.  22,  1859. 
McCulloch,  l^x'tsy  Covle,  wife  of  David,  b.  Sept.  3,  1804; 

d.  Dec.  28,  1882. 
McCulloch,  Jane   Dunbar,   wife    of  John,  b.    1805;  d. 

Minvh  7,  1838. 
McCrea,  William,  b.  1759;  d.  1837. 
McCrea,  Margaret,  wife  of  William,  b.  1759;  d.  1822. 
McCrea  William,  1).  July  21,  1800;  d.  Oct.  25,  1885. 
McCracken,  Capt.  William,  b.  1753;  d.  Jan.   1(),  1803. 

(A  Revolutionary  soldier.) 
McDannell,  Daniel,  b.   in   Ireland,  Nov.   11,   1722;  d. 

March  27,  1789. 
McDannell,  Jane,  wife  of  Daniel,  b.  in  Ireland,  Jan.  1, 

172(5;  d.  June  28,  1795. 
McDannell,  Mrs.   Elizabeth,   1).  Oct.   18,   1790;  d.  May 

25,  18()(3. 
McDajinell,  Margaret,  b.  March  6,  1797;  d.  May  8, 1809. 
McDannell,  Daniel,  b.  July  18, 1751;  d.  June  26,  1811. 
McDannell,  Daniel;  son  of  Daniel,  b.  March  23,  1792; 

d.  Nov.  13,  1825. 
McDannell,  Jane,  b.  1765;  d.  Feb.  18,  1842. 
McDannell,  John,  b.  1729;  d.  Jan.  1,  1800. 


192  THE       BIG       SPRING 


McDowell,  Margaret,  b.  Dec.  80,  1792;  d.  June  9,  1851. 
McDowell,  Elizabeth,  b.  Nov.  16,  1797;  d.  June  8, 1851. 
McDowell,  Mary,  b.  17(58;  d.  Dec.  24,  1884. 
McDowell,  8amuel,  b.  17(54;  d.  Apr.  24,  1880. 
McDowell,  Mary,  b.  Sept.   18,  1794;  d.  Apr.   28,   1863. 
McDowell,  John,  b.  1778;  d.  Jan.  9,  1829. 
McDowell,  Margaret   Laird,   wife  of  John,   1^.  Dec.  19, 

1790;  d.  Maf  30,  1855. 
McElwain,  Ilobert,  b.  1781;  d.  Jan.  18,  1853. 
McElwain,  Jane,  wife  of  Robert,  b.  1790;  d.  May  12, 

1869. 
McElwain,  Andrew,  jr.,  1).  April  19,  1785;  d.  Aug.   10, 

1840. 
McElwain,  Mary,  wife  of  Andrew,   b.    July    16,    1798; 

d.  Oct.  27,  1868. 
McFarlane,  William,  b.  1757;  d.  Jan.  29,  1802. 
McFarlane,  Esther,  b.  17(59;  d.  Feb.  18,  1789. 
McFarlane,  Eleanor,  b.  1776;  d.  Oct.  19,  1814. 
McFarlane,  Elizabeth,  b.  1767;  d.  March  16,  1816. 
McFarlane,  James,  b.  1757;  d.  Dec.  1(3,  1807. 
McFarlane,  Elizabeth,  wife  of  James,  b.  1764;  d.  March 

26,  1814. 
McFarlane,  Robert,  b.  Nov.  15,  1784;  d.  April  24, 1838. 
McFarlane,   Lydia,    wife   of  Clemens,  b.  Aug.  1799;  d. 

March  20,  1846. 
McFarlane,  William,  I).  1744;  d.  April  3,  1811. 
McFarlane,  Robert,  b.  Oct.  23,  1776;  d.  Sept.  14,   1847. 
McFarlane,  Jane,  wife  of  Robert,  b.  Nov.  21,    1799;    d. 

Feb.  1,  1882. 
McFarlane,  Jane,  wife  of  Rol)ert,  b.  1787;  d.  March  11, 

1833. 
McFarlane,  Rosanna,  b.  1734;  d.  Nov.  26,  1812. 


ria':.si)VTi;i;iAx     (iirucu.  193 


j\rrFm-l;nus  PntnVk,  I).  1727;  d.  :\I:»ivli  Ki,  1702. 
Mrlllu'iiiiy,  ^r;irL;;irc't,  wife  of  Ivohcrt,  1).   171)2;   d.    Apr. 

22,  188r). 
Alclntire,  Jolin,  1..  MI'k  d.  Aui;-.  H\,  1«30. 
Mc'Tntii'c,  M;ir<;ai'('t,  wife  of  Join),  1).  17r)l*);d.    8e])t.    17, 

1830. 
Mt'Keehaii,  iH-iijainiii,    1).    An--.    2,     1718;    d.    (Jet.    23, 

1814. 
McKeelian,  Margaret,  wife    of    ])eiijaiiiin,    It.    Feb.    22, 

1758;  d.  A|>r.*24,  182*1. 
INIeKeeliaii,  Samuel,  1).  178(>;  d.  Dee.  12,  1870. 
MeKeehaii,  Deboi'ah,  wife  of  Samuel,  b.  1780;  d.  x\pril 

30,  18(;7. 
MeKeehan,  Rol)ert,  b.  Oet.  13,  1784;  d.  April  26,  1868. 
MeKeeliau,  jNlary  Trego,  wife  of  Rol)ert,  b.    March    24, 

1782;  d.  Feb.  28,  1854. 
:\leKibbeu,  Joseph,  1).  1704;  d.  Nov.  13,  1836. 
MeKinstry,  James,  b..l805;  d.  Jan.  30,  1846. 
MeMouigal,  AVilliam,  b.  1766;  d.  July  14,  1813. 
:MeMonioal,  xVgues,  b.  1755;  d.  May  10,  1812. 
MeWilliams,  Robert,  b.  1786;  d.  Mar.  10,  1813. 
Megaw,  James,  b.  1775;  d.  May  26,  1838. 
Megaw,  Sarah,  b.  1770;  d.  May  24,  1846. 
Mickey,  Robert,  b.  Dec.  21,  1746;  d.  Dec.  3,  1827. 
Mickey,  Ezemiah,  b.  1755;  d.  Dec.  8,  1830. 
Mickey,  James,  b.  1705;  d.  1835. 
Mickey,  Lucetta,  wife  of  James,  b.  1802;  d.  1862. 
Miller,  Henry,  b.  Jan.  1,  1777;  d.  Jan.  23,  1838. 
jNlorrow,  John  S.,  b.  July  26,  1788;  d.  April   16,    1863. 
MolHt,  Robert,  b.  iNIay  6,  1700;  d.  Sept.  14,  1856. 
Nicholson,  Richard,  b.  1713;  d.  Dec.  18,  1702. 
Nicholson,  Marv,  b.  1708;  d.  Jan.  5,  1703, 


194  THE      BIG      SPRING 


Nickey,  Jacob,  b.  Jan.  4,  1797;  d.  Jan.  1,  1886. 

Neal,  James,  sr.,  d.  Feb.  27,  1793. 

Neal,  Sarali,  wife  of  James,  d.  8ept.  13,  1814. 

Over,  Keziah,  wife  of  Samuel,  b.  Sept.  23,  1800;  d.  July 

28,  1861. 
Pollock,  Mary,  wife  of  Joseph,  b.  1758;  d.    Aug.    1838. 
Pierce,  Paul,  b.  1716;  d.  June  7,  1794. 
Pierce  Joseph,  b.  1756;  d.  Aug.  30,  180(3. 
Pierce,  Jane,  wife  of  Joseph,  b.  Dec.  1768;  d.  Feb.    25, 

1827. 
Patterson,  Elizabeth,  b.  1772;  d.  Mar.  8,  1798. 
Patterson  Andrew,  b.  1730;  d.  Nov.  10,  1792. 
Patterson,  Mary,  wife  of  Andrew,    b.    1734;    d.    March 

15,  1827. 
Patterson,  Thomas,  son  of  Andi'ew,  I).  1773;  d.  Dec.  10, 

1822. 
Patterson,  Obediah,  b.  1762;  d.  March  10,  1804. 
Patterson,  Ann,  wife  of  Obediah,.  b.  1798;  d.   March   5, 

1840. 
Patton,  Elizabeth,  b.  Jan.  3,  1797;  d.  Feb.  4,  1870. 
Peebles,  Capt.  William,  killed  at  the  battle  of  Flat  Bush, 

L.  I.,  1776. 
Peebles,  Capt.  Robert,  b.  1776;  d.  Jan.  7,  1830. 
Phillips,  Edward,  b.  1796;  d.  Dec.  25,  1857. 
Phillips,  Jane,  wife  of  Edward,    b.    1793;    d.    Dec.    22, 

1870. 
Randolph,  Mary  Knettle,  wife  of  John,  b.  1800;  d.  Dec. 

12,  1841. 
Ralston,  Mary,  b.  1779;  d.  Feb.  13,  1852; 
Ralston,  David,  b.  1783;  d.  March  8,  1849. 
Ralston,  Lacy,  wife  of  David,  b.  1790;  d.  Jan.  28, 1863. 
Reed,  James,  b.  1789;  d.  May  12,  1842. 


rni:sr.YTi;i;iAX     ciiukch.  195 


Reed,  llii^ii,  1..  I7S:5;  <1.  IS'iil 

Riehy,  William,  h.  1  7('.();  d.  Feb.  I),  1cS30. 

JSliarp,  Janu's,  h.  Jan.  27,  177'J;  d.  Feb.  L^S,  1823. 

Starrett,  James,  1).  July,  17()<S;  d.  June  18,  1812. 

HtenvU,  David,  1..  April,  17(')7;  d.  July  2(),  1825. 

Htarrett,  Martha,   wiJ'e   of  Robert,  daughter  of  Thomas 

Woods,  b.  in  Lancaster  County,  July  25,  1801;  d.  1838. 
Sterrett,  David,  1).  17-1(1;  d.  Nov.  2,  1790. 
Sterrett,  David,  b.  Apr.  4,  1800;  d.  INIay  O,  1864. 
Sterrett,  Rebecea,  wife  of  David,   b.   Aug.   11,  1802;  d. 

Mar.  7,  18()5. 
Sterrett,  Rachel,  1).  179(i;  d.  Dee.  28,  1823. 
^teel,  Robert,  h.  1766;  d.  Aug.  17,  1836. 
Steel;  Mary,   wife  of  Kobert,  b.  Fel).  1,    1776;  d.  Aug. 

19,  1859. 
Stevenson,  John,  b.  1739;  d.  Aug.  19,  1777. 
Stevenson,  Rachel,  wife  of  John,  dau.  of  Alex.  Scroggs, 

b.  1756;  d.  Apr.  30,  1780. 
Stevenson,  Jane,  b.  1758;  d.  1818. 
Stevenson,  William,  b.  1741;  d.  Dee.  1,  1817. 
Stevenson,  Margaret,  d.  Aj)r.  1,  1821. 
Stevenson,  John,  1).  1780;  d.  Jan.  1,  1835. 
Stevenson,  John,  b.  178();  d.  Fel).  14,  1835. 
Stevenson,  Mary,  b.  1783;  d.  Feb.  11,  1837. 
Stevenson,  William,  b.  Sept.  22,  1792;  d.  Nov.  27, 1848. 
Smith,  Hugh,  b.  1750;  d.  Mar.  17,  1823. 
Smith,  Elizabeth  McCormick,  wife  of  Hugh,  b.  1764;  d. 

.A[ay,  22,  1822. 
Smith,  Renjamin,  b.  1747;  d.  Oct.  16,  1838. 
Thompson,  jNIatthew,  b.  1754;  d.  Oct.  19,  1823. 
Thompson,  Joseph,  b.  1786;  d.  Nov.  5,  1832. 
Trego,  Rebecca,  wife  of  Moses,  b;  1762;  d.  Oct.  7,  1823. 


196  THE       BIG       SPUING 

Wallace,  John,  h.  1744;  d.  Dec.  12,  1814. 

Wallace,  Agnes,  h.  17(17;  d.  May  28,  1827. 

Wallace,  Margaret,  b.  1792;  d.  A]ni\  2,  1855. 

Wallace,  John,  b.  1798;  d.  1876. 

Wallace,  Mary,  wife  of  John,  b.  1801;  d.  1887. 

Wallace,  Thomas,  b.  Nov.  27,  1792;  d.  Sept.  30,  1832. 

Wallace,  Mary,  wife  of  Thomas,  1).  Nov.  22,  1796;  d. 

Apr.  13,  1838. 
Weakley,  Samuel,  b.  1755;  d.  Fel).  10,  1829. 
Weakley,  Hetty,  b.  1755;  d.  Oct.  1,  1819. 
Weakley,  John,  1).  1778;  d.  Nov.  22,  1826. 
Weakley,  INIartha,  b.  1778;  d.  Oct.  1,  1857. 
Wilt,  Peter,  b.  177();  d.  July  23, 1842. 
Wilson,  Samuel,  1).  1748;  d.  Apr.  3,  1837. 
Wilson,  Matthew,  1).  174(r,  d.  Jan.6,  1824. 
Wilson,  Rev.  Samuel,  1).  1754;  d.  Mar.  4,  1799.     (Pas- 
tor Big  Spring  Presl)ytcrian  Church.) 
Wilson,  Jane,  wife  of  Rev.  Samuel,  b.  1761;  d.  May  29, 

1835. 
Wilson,  John,  son  of  Rev.  Sanuiel,  b.  1793;  d.  Jan.  30, 

1809. 
Williamson,  William,  1).  1791;  d.  Apr.  24,  1837. 
Williamson,  Tamar,  wife  of  David,  b.  1763;  d.  Mar.  23, 

1813. 
Williams,  Catharine,  wife  of  George,  b.  Aug.  5,  1780; 

d.  Mar.  5,  1862. 
Williams,  Rev.  Joshua,  D.  D.,  b.  1767;  d.  Aug.  21, 1838. 

(Pastor  Big  Spring  Presbyterian  Church.) 
Williams,   Eleanor,  wife   of  Rev.    Joshua,  b.  1780;  d. 

Apr.  28,  1856. 
Williams,  James  C,  son  of  Rev.  Joshua,  b.  1801;  d.  1822. 
Whitley,  Andrew,  b.  1769;  d.  Dec.  7,  1848. 


o 


H 
I 
rti 

?;  £^ 

>  m 

-< 

0  > 

>  O 

1  ■ 


PRESBYTERIAN      CHURCH.  199 


SOLDIERS    BURIED    IN    THE   GRAVE   YARD. 

Allen,  J.  K.,  Kebellion. 

Boose,  Jonatlian,  War  1812. 

Brandon,  Thomas,  Rebellion. 

Barr,  John,  Rel^ellion. 

BaiT,  Alexander,  Rebellion. 

Brown,  John,  b.  Bept.  19,  1752;  d.  Jan.  10,  1842,  Rev- 
olution. 

BroAvn,  George,  Co.  E,  187  Pa.  Inft. 

Butler,  Corp.  Elliott,  Co.  A,  127  U.  S.  C.  I. 

Buchanan,  Gen.  Thomas,  b.  1747;  d.  Oct.  13,  1823, 
Revolution. 

Crawford,  Sargt.  G.  W.,  Co.  G,  45th  U.  S.  C.  Inft. 

Denning,  William,  b.  1737,  d.  Dec.  19,  1830,  Revolu- 
tion. 

Fenton,  Samuel,  Revolution. 

Fenton,  John,  War  of  1812. 

Fenton,  Col.  James,  b.  1776,  War  of  1812. 

Fulton,  Robert  H.,  d.  Aug.  IH,  1891,  Rebellion. 

Fry,  Cai)t.  Jesse  R.,  b.  1832;  d.  1893,  Co.  D,  77th  Regt. 
Pa.  Vol.,  Rel)ellion. 

Ferguson,  William,  Revolution. 

Graham,  Sargent  George  W.,  b.  May  (>,  1841;  killed 
May  10,  1803. 

George,  8.  C,  Co.  E,  127  Pa.  Inft. 

Hays,  John  S.,  1).  1842;  d.  Mar.  29,  1877.  Sargt.  130 
Reg.  Pa.  Vol. 

House,  John,  b.  1782;  d.  Nov.  1872,  War  of  1812. 

Hackett,  Thompson,  b.  Dec.  28,  1844;  d.  Apr.  14,  1893, 
Rebellion. 

Howard,  Nicholas,  d.  Nov.  18,  1847,  War  of  1812. 

Hood,  Josiah,  1».  Aug.  11,   179^1;  d.  Oct.   2,  1873,  AVar 


200  THE      BIG      KPRING 


McElwaiii,  Thomas,  War  of  1812. 

MeCuUough,  Leo,  b.  May,  27;  1842,  Rebellion. 

Mc Williams,  John,  War*^of  1812. 

Moffitt,  David  8.,  b.  Sept.  18.  1818;  d.  May,  8,  1888, 

Rebellion. 
MeCracken,  Ca])t.  William,  b.  1758;  d.  Jan.  1(3,  1803, 

Revolution. 
Nehf,  George,  Co.  I,  12  Reg.  Pa.,  Reserv.  Vol. 
Neal,  Col.  Joseph,  d.  Mar.  25,  1838,  War  of  1812. 
Perry,  Abram,  Co.  K,  U.  S.  C.  Inft. 
Peebles,  Capt.  William,  killed   at   the    battle   of    Flat 

Bush,  L.  I.,  1776. 
Peebles,  Capt.  Robert,  b.  1776;  d.  Jan.  7,  1830,  War  of 

1812. 
Roberts,  Capt.  John,  War  of  1812. 
Richardson,  John  H.,  Rebellion. 
Stewart,  Samuel  I.,  Co.  K,  158  Reg.  Pa.  Inft. 

of  1812. 
Ickes,  Charles,  Rebellion. 
Jenkens,  George,  Co.  B,  23rd  U.  S.  C.  I. 
Johnson,  William  H.,  d.  July  16,  1869,  Rebellion. 
Johnson,  John  Bell,  U.  S.  N. 
Kinsley,  J.  R.,  Co.  H,  3rd  Pa.  Cal. 
Kyle,  Samuel,  War  of  1812. 
Kennedy,  John,  War  of  1812. 
Knight,  James,  U.  S.  Navy,  Rebellion. 
Laughlin,  William,  killed  at  the  battle  of  Fredericks- 
burg, Dec.  13,  1862. 
Martin,  Sargent  D.  E.,  Co.  I,  201  Pa.  Inft. 
McCune,  J.' A.,  Co.  M,  7th  Pa.  Cal. 
McElwain,  Robert,  b.   1781;  d.  Jan.  18,  1853,  War  of 

1812. 


PRESBYTERIAN      CHURCH. 


201 


Snowdei),  Sargt.  Samuel  S.,  Co.  G,  8th  U.  S.  C.  Inft. 
Snowden,  James  H.,  Co.  A,  24tli  U.  S.  C.  I. 
Tiirbet,  William,  Mexican  War. 
Vanderbilt,  C.  H.,  Rel)ellion. 

Zeio-ler,  Samuel  R.,  b.  Oct.  22,  184G;  d.  Mar.  15,  1897, 
Ilebellion. 


<— ?=o>p)»- 


=^X}-«Wf=C=4 — • 


202 


THE      BIG      .SPRING 


API^EISTDIXES. 


APPENDIX    A. 


Ill  giving  the  adherents  of  the  Big  Spring  Church  in 
John  Carson's  district  on  page  30,  the  following  ])ersons 
were  inadvertently  omitted 


Samuel  McCune  14, 

Hugh  McCune  12, 

John  McCune  60;'= 

Mary  McCune  40,='" 

Adam  Fullerton  16, 

James  Fullerton  14, 
Alexander  Fullerton    11, 

John  McCune  9, 

Robert  McCune  7, 

Samuel  Weir  66,''' 

Jane  Weir  30,''' 

George  Weir  30, 

Margaret  Weir  25, 
Agnes  Marten, 
George,  a  Negro, 


Elizabeth  Kilgore 
Jei;*se  Kilgore 
Kobert  Kilgore 
William  Kilgore, 
Isabel  Kilgore 
Mary  Hawks 
James  Mickey 
Agnes  Mickey 
Joseph  Parks 
Rebecca  Parks 
Thomas  Parks 
Joseph  Parks 
Anna  Parks 
John  C.  Parks 


70,'^^ 
19, 


21, 

24, 

19, 

o5,''' 

50,'=^ 

20, 

18, 

16, 

14. 


PJRESBYTERIAN      CHURCH.  203 

APPENDIX    V>. 

The  Presbyterians  of  the  Cum= 
berland   Valley. 

An  Address  at  the  Celebration  of  the  Founding  of  the 
Log  College,  at  Neshaminy,  Pa.,  September  5,  (889. 

i5Y  ni:v.  i:i'.i-:ni:zkk  khskim:,  d.  J). 

Mr.  Cli(tirman  and  (Jirifitiaii  lUdJircn: 

There  is  an  instiiK'tive  tciidi'iH-y  in  llic  liiiinan  miiKl 
to  trace  all  things  to  tluir  natui-il  and  proper  origin. 
Discoverers  and  ex})l()rers  follow  rivei's  to  their  sonrees. 
Naturalists  seek  to  traee  all  animal  and  vegetable  organ- 
isms to  their  original  germs.  Philologists  run  back 
Mords  to  their  roots.  The  great  problem  of  the  ages,  in 
all  the  speculative  schools  of  thought  has  been,  what  is 
the  origin  of  moral  evil?  What  is  the  origin  of  the  ma- 
terial u;iivi'rse? 

It  is  under  the  inlluence  of  this  j)rinciple  of  causation, 
of  antecedent  and  consequent,  that  we  are  here  gathered 
to-dav  to  celebrate  the  founding  of  the  Log  College  by 
the  elder  William  Tennent,  as  the  first  academical  and 
theological  school  witliin  the  bounds  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  of  the  United  S^tates  for  the  training  of  young 
men  for  the  work  of  the  ministry.  On  this  historic  spot, 
with  all  its  interesting  historic  envii'onnicnts,  we  have 
assend)]ed,  that  here,  Avith  uncovered  heads  we  may  ac- 
knowledge, with  gratitude  to  God,  the  obligations  we 
ai-e  under  to  the  consecrated,  self  denying  founder  of  an 
humble  institution,  which  sent  out  an  infbience  that  has 
])ei'vack'd  the  church  and  the  nation. 

We  are  here  not  from  any  su])erstitious  regard  for  this 
histoiic  ])lace;  nor  with  any  mere  affectation  of  interest 
in  i]i(<('  liistoric  scenes  which  we  ck*  n(»t  feel;  but  to  call  to 


204  THE       BIG       SPRING 

mind  the  life,  character  and  labors  of  William  Teniient, 
the  history  of  the  school  which  he  here  established,  and 
to  inquire  what  were  the  faith,  the  spirit  and  the  princi- 
ples which  animated  and  governed  him  and  which  found 
expression  in  the  young  men  of  talent  and  energy  whom 
he  here  trained.  The  orthodox,  Calvinistic  faith,  the  evan- 
gelical spirit,  and  the  consecrated  life  of  William  Tenn- 
ent,  which  he  impressed  upon  and  infused  into  the 
young  men  here  trained,  are  what  made  the  Log  Col- 
lege so  famous  in  the  history  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 
AVilliam  Tennent  lived  in  those  he  here  trained,  more 
than  in  his  work  as  a  minister  of  the  Gos]:)el  or  any 
other  thing  which  he  accomplished.  From  this  school 
went  forth  young  men  who,  like  Barnabas,  were  full  of 
faith  and  of  the  Holy  Ghost.  The  character  of  the 
school  m  this  respect  was  the  seo'et  of  its  great  power 
for  good.  This  line  of  thought  I  cannot  further  pursue. 
I  have  been  asked  by  the  committee  in  charge  of  these 
services  to  say  something  in  regard  to  the  Presbyterians 
of  the  Cumberland  Valley,  and  tlieir  relationship  to  the 
Log  College. 

THE   CUMBERLAND    VALLEY. 

Perhaps  there  are  those  here  to-day  who  would  like 
to  know  just  where  and  what  this  Cumberland  Valley  is. 

I  answer,  that  it  is  a  part  of  that  extended  valley 
which  lies  between  two  chains  of  that  great  Appallachian 
range  of  hills  and  mountains  whicli  runs  in  a  northeast- 
erly and  southwesterly  direction  across  the  eastern  half 
of  this  continent  and  which  is  trom  twelve  to  twenty 
miles  in  width,  the  whole  length  of  it.  Starting  out 
from  the  southern  part  of  the  State  of  Vermont,  under 
different  names  at  different  stages  of  its  progress,  it  runs 
down  through  eastern  New  York,  crossing  the  Hudson 
at  Newburg;  coming  on  through  Pennsylvania,  it  crosses 
the  Delaware  at  Easton,  the  Susquehanna  at  Harrisburg 
and  the  Potomac  at  Harper's  Ferry;  and  running  on 
down  through   Virginia,  it  crosses  the  James  River  at 


PRESBYTERIAN      CHURCH.  205 

Lyiiclibnrg  and  then  runs  around  through  Tennessee 
and  on  down  into  Alabama. 

Now,  that  Y>i\v{  of  tills  extended  valley  which  is  called 
Cund)erland  \'alley,  is  that  part  which  lies  between  the 
Susquehanna  and  the  Potoni'ac  rivers  and  takes  its  name 
from  Cunil)erland  County,  the  first  county  organized  in 
it,  and  which  name  was  taken  from  that  of  a  county  in 
the  North  of  England,  bordering  on  Scotland. 

By  many  it  has  been  much  regretted  that  it  had  not 
been  allowed  to  retain  its  original  Indian  name,  that  of 
the  Kittatinny  Valley,  the  valley  of  endless  mountains. 

ITS   SCENERY,  SOIL    AND    CLIMATE. 

From  the  Susquehanna  to  the  Potomac,  the  Kitta- 
tinny, or  the  North  ]\Iountain,  as  it  is  commonly  called, 
lifts  up  its  long  and  almost  level  line  of  summit  to  the 
height  of  from  seven  to  twelve  hundred  feet  above  the 
surfaceof  the  valley,  ])resenting  to  the  eye  all  along,  a 
varying  aspect  of  extended  forests  with  here  and  there 
intervening  patches  of  rocks,  the  changing  draper}'^  of 
floating  mists,  the  fleeing  shadows  of  ever  passing  clouds, 
and  all  the  diversified  lines  of  spring,  summer  and 
autumn  foliage.  To  the  dwellers  in  the  valley  it  is  ever 
a  most  pleasing  object  of  sight  and  very  restful  and 
grateful  to  the  eye. 

The  Soutii  Mountain,  which  runs  along  the  other  side, 
slopes  more  gi'adually  into  the  valley  than  the  North  and 
is  broken  into  knobs  and  sjmrs  with  deep  intervening 
recesses,  and  is  alike  an  object  pleasant  to  behold. 

The  surface  of  the  valley  itself,  is  varied  by  hills, 
plains  and  dales,  and  is  noted  for  the  fertility  of  its  soil, 
for  its  numerous  great  and  evei'  flowing  springs  and  its 
clear  running  streams,  for  its  abundant  crops  of  grain 
and  its  pure  and  l)racing  atmosphere.  In  all  these  re- 
spects it  is  perhaps  unsurpassed  l)y  any  other  valley  of 
equal  extent  in  any  part  of  the  American  continent. 

Attractive  as  this  valley  thus  is,  its  settlement  was 
delaved  bv  reason  of  the  Indian  claim  to  it,  which  was 


206  THE      BIG      SPRING 


not  purchased  until  the  year  1736  and  also  somewhat 
by  reason  of  the  controversy  pending  between  the  two 
Provinces  of  Pennsylvania  and  Maryland  in  relation  to 
the  boundary  line  between  them  which  was  not  adjusted 
until  1787,  nor  confirmed  by  Mason  and  Dixon's  survev 
until  1763. 

EARLY    SETTLERS. 

By  whom  w^as  this  beautiful  valley  first  settled?  The 
answer  is  almost  exclusively  by  the  Scotch  Irish  Presby- 
terians, a  people  of  the  same  race  and  of  the  same  relig- 
ious faith  and  worship  with  the  founders  and  alumni  of 
the  Log  College. 

It  is  not  for  me  to  tell  you  in  detail  here  to-day  who 
the  Scotch  Irish  Presbyterians  were.  That  task  has  been 
assigned  to  our  friend  Dr.  Muchmore,  who  has  been 
everywhere  and  knows  everybody,  and  like  most  editors, 
almost  everything. 

I  must  ans^Yer  the  question,  however,  who  were  the 
Presbyterians,  that  were  the  chief  original  settlers  of  the 
Cumberland  Valley?  In  doing  so  let  it  suffice  here  to 
to  say,  that  they  w^ere  Scotch  Irish  Presbyterians;  and 
that  they  were  very  much  a  Scotch  colony,  induced  by 
James  the  First  to  settle  on  the  forfeited  lands  of  the 
Earls  of  Tyrone  and  Tyrconnel  in  the  Province  of  Ulster, 
with  its  nine  counties  in  the  North  or  Ireland.  The 
story  of  the  English  conquest  of  Ireland  is  one  of  great 
interest  at  the  present  time.  AVhen  Pope  Adrian  in 
1166  made  a  grant  of  Ireland  to  England,  it  was  on  two 
conditions.  The  first  was  that  they  were  to  have  Ireland 
when  they  could  get  it.  The  second  was  that  the  Pope 
was  to  liave  an  annual  tax  in  perpetuity  of  a  penny  a 
family.  This  was  the  origin  of  Peter's  pence,  wliicli  they 
still  continue  to  pay. 

England  found  the  native  Irish  a  peo])le  hard  to  con- 
quer and  still  worse  to  govern.'  Their  troubles  in  this 
respect  are  still  not  ended.  For  a  long  time  they  tried 
to  i:)lacate  their  Irish  sul^jects  ))}'  a  liberal  bestowment  of 


CRCCTtC  «Y  nt  ST»Tt  Of 
rCNDSTLVANU 

m  MCMOirr  or 

WILXJ&M   DENNING 

1HC  PATRIOTIC  BUCJCSIifTM  U 

rORCCR  OF  DKOUGHT  IROX  UVUflj 

I  I OURINC  THE  hcvximowunr  cm.' 

eOM    1737 -DttD   1810. 


PKESBYlKinAN       (liUllCH.  207 


titles  of  nobility,  and  restoration  of  lands,  but  in  vain. 
For  a  ])eriod  of  more  than  three  hundred  years  the  Eng- 
lish rule  was  limited  to  Dublin  and  its  vicinity.  Half 
of  the  people  of  Ulster  perished  in  the  successive  rebel- 
lions and  conflicts,  they  were  wasted  by  wars,  starved  by 
famines,  and  rethieed  to  the  lowest  state  of  ])overty  and 
wretchedness.  Still  they  hated  English  domination. 
The  break  of  Heniy  the  Eighth  with  the  Pope  did  not 
improve  tlie  situation.  Elizal)etli's  distinctive  Pretestant- 
ism  made  her  I'cign  still  more  offensive.  It  was  not 
until  the  Scottish  James  came  to  the  throne,  and  resorted 
to  tlie  old  Roman  })olicy  of  confiscation  that  Ulster  was 
subdued.  He  confiscated  five  hundred  thousand  ncres 
of  land  in  various  parts  of  the  Province.  On  these 
lands  the  hardy  and  loyal  Scotch  gentry  and  ]ieople 
were  induced  to  settle.  To  do  so,  they  left  the  hills  and 
glens  and  lowlands  and  mists  of  Scotland,  where  they 
had  so  heroi(*ally  battled  for  the  rights  of  conscience  and 
the  Crown  riglits  of  Christ,  and  came  and  sojourned  for 
a  time  beneath  the  moister  skies  of  Ulster,  and  there 
took  on  a  milder  type  of  character  and  a  more  evangeli- 
cal and  warmer  type  of  religion,  b}'  reason  of  the 
gracious  revivals  of  religion  with  which  their  churches 
Avere  blessed.  These  were  the  Scotch  Irish  Presby- 
terians. 

As  soon  as  America  was  open  for  settlement,  the 
Scotch  and  the  Scotch  Irish  wei'c  among  the  earliest  em- 
igrants, and  with  their  restless  energy  and  spirit  of  ad- 
venture, they  touched  the  American  coast  at  almost 
every  point  from  Nova  Scotia,  to  which  they  gave  its 
name,  to  the  Carolinas.  But  their  main  settlements 
wen^  in  Pennsylvania  and  the  Carolinas.  The  reason  of 
this  was,  the  laws  of  the  Provinces  of  New  York  and 
Virginia,  and  their  Provincial  officers  were  unfriendly  to 
the  coming  of  any  ministers  except  those  of  the  Church 
of  England.  This  was  illustrated  in  the  experience  of 
the  Rev.  James  Anderson,  an  able  and  thoroughly  edu- 


208  THE      BIG       Sl'KING 


cated  minister  of  the  Church  of  Scotland,  sent  over  in 
answer  to  overtures  from  Mr.  Makemie,  McNish  and 
others,  for  the  express  purpose  of  settling  in  Virginia, 
but  who  after  a  stay  of  six  months,  for  the  reasons  stated, 
abandoned  the  attempt  and  came  north  and  settled  in 
1710,  at  New  Castle,  Delaware;  and  in  1716  was  called  to 
be  the  fij'st  pastor  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  in  the 
city  of  New  York ;  and  on  the  other  hand  by  the  arrest, 
imprisonment  and  prosecution  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Makemie, 
the  father  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  America,  "as  a 
roving  minister"  in  the  city  of  New  York.  The  tidings 
of  these  things  Avent  back  to  Ulster  and  Scotland,  and 
had  the  effect  of  largely  preventing  the  people  from 
going  where  they  could  not  take  their  ministers  with 
them.  Wherever  this  people  went,  they  brought  their 
Presbyterianism  with  them. 

The  Scotch  Irish  were  far  more  numerous  among  the 
earlier  emigrants  into  Pennsylvania  than  the  Scotch. 
Not  being  allied  to  Ireland  by  any  long  standing  tra- 
ditions or  sacred  memories,  and  being  there  greatly 
oppressed  and  harassed  by  the  tyranny  and  exactions  of 
a  despotic  and  profligate  monarch,  and  the  restrictions 
and  penalties  imposed  by  an  obsequious  parliament,  and 
by  the  intolerance  and  persecutions  instigated  by  a 
haughty  hierarchy,  these  things,  with  the  rapacity  and 
greed  of  the  landlords,  determined  great  and  increasing 
numbers  of  them  to  come  to  America.  And  learning 
that  under  the  liberal  charter  and  the  free  laws  of  the 
Province  of  Pennsylvania,  equal  rights  and  all  the 
advantages  of  civil  and  religious  liberty  were  guaranteed 
alike  to  all  the  settlers,  they  were  attracted  in  large  num- 
bers to  the  free  Province  of  Pennsylvania. 

As  they  left  their  homes  with  their  fmiilies,  for  the 
reasons  stated,  to  seek  new  homes  across  the  seas  and  in 
the  wilderness  of  another  continent,  the  reasons  actuating 
them  had  come  to  be  in  their  minds  solemn  and  grave 
considerations.     Tliev  had  suffered  for  the  ri<»;hts  of  con- 


PRESBYTERIAN       CHURCH.  200 


science  and  liberty  to  worship  God  in  both  their  former 
homes. 

These  early  Scotcli  Iiish  Presl)yterian  settlers  were 
<»;enerally  agriculturists.  When  therefore  they  landed 
at  Wilmington  or  Philadelphia,  they  were  not  drawn  to 
the  towns  or  cities,  l)ut  went  at  once  into  the  rural  dis- 
tricts and  settled  generally  on  lands  along  the  streams  of 
water,  or  in  vicinity  of  the  great  springs  which  abounded 
in  the  country;  as  along  White  Clay  creek  in  Delaware, 
the  Ih-andywine  and  Octorara  creeks  in  Chester  county, 
Pa.,  on  the  Neshaminy  and  other  streams  here  in  Bucks 
county,  or  fai'ther  on  up  as  at  the  Forks  of  the  Delaware 
in  Northampton  county;  along  the  Pequeaand  Donegal 
streams  and  springs  in  Lancaster  county,  and  on  the 
banks  of  Swatara  and  Fishing  creeks  in  what  is  now 
Dau])hin  county. 

Then  when  encouragement  was  given  and  licenses 
were  granted  they  began  to  cross  over  the  Susquehanna 
at  Harris's  ferry,  now  Hairisburg,  from  1726  to  1786. 
Crossing  over  at  Harrisburg  they  settled  along  the  Cono- 
doguinetand  about  the  Big  Spring,  Middle  Spring,  Fall- 
ing S})ring  and  Rocky  Spring,  in  tlie  central  part  of  the 
valley,  and  on  up  along  the  Conococheague  and  its  sev- 
eral brandies,  in  the  vicinity  of  what  is  now  Chand)ers- 
burg  and  ^lercersburg. 

Land  wai-rants  were  sold  from  173(5  onwards.  From 
that  time  a  great  tide  of  emigration  set  into  all  these  reg- 
ions in  the  valley.  From  thence  this  tide  of  enn'gration 
flowed  on  to  the  Potomac  and  on  down  the  valley  of 
Virginia  into  the  Carolinas  and  Tennessee  and  across 
into  Kentucky. 

When  the  valley  was  thus  fully  open  to  settlement, 
its  a  [tractions  were  so  great,  that  a  large  influx  of  peo- 
ple at  once  set  into  it.  Those  who  came  were  princi- 
])ally  immigrants  from  the  north  of  Ireland,  Scotch  Irish 
Presbytei'ians,  or  peojile  of  tlie  same  nationality  and  of 
the  same  religious  iaith  and  order  from  the  earlier  settle- 


210  THE      BIG      SPRING 


ments  in  the  Province  of  Pennsylvania.  They  were 
generally  snbstantial  farmers,  men  of  steady  habits,  hardy, 
energetic,  industrions  and  enterprising,  with  sufficient 
capital  for  the  improvement  and  extension  of  their  farms. 
They  selected  their  lands  with  a  vie^v  to  permanent  resi- 
dence and  as  future  homes  for  their  families.  Many  of 
the  dwelling  houses  of  these  first  settlers  in  Cumberland 
Valley  were  built  of  hewn  logs,  two  stories  high,  well 
and  strongly  built,  with  several  apartments  above  and 
below.  As  early  as  1744,  many  stone  houses  of  two 
stories  were  erected  in  different  parts  of  the  valley.  Some 
of  these  are  still  standing,  and  are  substantial  and  com- 
fortable dwellings. 

Nine-tenths  of  all  who  came  thus  into  the  valley  at 
that  period  were  Scotch  Irish  people.  They  were  a 
people  who  had  been  trained  up  under  the  Westminster 
Confession  of  Faith  and  the  Larger  and  Shorter  Cate- 
chisms. They  were  generally  an  intelligent,  sincere, 
honest.  Christian  people,  with  a  religious  c)iaracter  and 
life  based  upon  the  doctrines  and  duties  set  forth  in  the 
standards  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  and  diligently  in- 
culcated upon  their  minds  from  their  youth  up. 

As  the  settlements  progressed,  congi-egations  were  or- 
ganized. By  1740,  there  were  about  one  thousand 
families  in  what  is  now  Cumberland  and  Franklin 
counties,  and  out  of  these  there  were  at  that  time  eiglit 
or  nine  congregations  organized.  These  were  Silver's 
Spring  and  Meeting  House  (Carlisle),  Big  Spring  (New- 
ville).  Middle  Spring,  Rocky  Spring,  Falling  Spring 
(Chambersburg),  Upper,  Lower  and  West  Conoco- 
cheague  (Mercersburg,  Greencastle  and  Welsh  Run). 

It  was  within  the  jjounds  of  the  first  of  these  last  three 
congregations  mentioned  (Mercersburg,  called  after  Gen- 
eral Mercer  who  fell  in  the  battle  of  Princeton),  that  the 
mother  of  our  worthy  and  excellent  Chief  jMagistrate, 
Mr.  Harrison,  who  has  honored  us  by  his  presence  here 
to-day,  and  the  part  he  has  taken  in  these  services,  had 


PRESBYTERIAN      CHURCH.  211 


her  birth  and  religious  training.  All  these  congrega- 
tions erected  at  once  church  buildings,  and  not  satisfied 
^vitli  licentiates  or  untrained  ministers,  they  all  sought 
cihicated,  well  trained  and  settled  pastors. 

Tlie  early  Presbyterian  ministers  of  the  valley  were 
all,  witli  but  one  exception,  of  Scotch  or  Bcotcli  Irish 
antecedents  and  all  graduates  of  some  college  or  univers- 
ity. These  people  had  been  trained  up  under  such 
niinistei's  at  tlieir  former  homes  and  they  would  be  satis- 
fied with  none  other  here.  They  were  intelligent  enough 
to  know  the  difference  between  thoroughly  educated 
ministers,  men  sound  in  the  faith  and  skilled  in  matters 
of  casuistry  and  those  who  were  mere  smatterers  in 
divine  knowledge  and  christian  experience. 

Sinniltaneously  with  the  organization  of  churches,  was 
the  erection  of  school  houses  in  every  neighborhood,  and 
the  procuring  of  suitable  sclioolmasters,  men  of  good 
moral  and  religious  character  and  of  the  other  necessary 
(]ualifications.  In  these  schools  the  common  branches 
of  an  ordinary  English  education  were  taught.  In  all 
of  them  the  Bible  was  the  standard  daily  reader  and  the 
Shorter  Catechism  was  recited  each  day  and  reviewed  on 
Saturday  morning. 

The  government  of  this  extended  community  in  the 
early  history  of  these  settlements  was  largely  patriarchal 
in  its  character.  The  father  of  each  family  was  the 
])ro})het,  priest  and  king  of  his  own  household.  He 
taught  and  trained  his  family  in  the  knowledge,  worship 
and  service  of  God.  Subordination  to  parental  authority 
was  a  matter  of  universal  inculcation,  and  obedience  to 
])arents  was  the  settled  rule  with  respect  to  the  youth  of 
the  entire  communit)'. 

The  great  instrumentalities  for  the  instruction  and 
training  of  the  young  were  the  home,  the  school  and  the 
church.  "Their  religion,"  as  Carlisle  has  somewhere 
said,  "was  the  chief  fact  about  them."  It  was  the  con- 
trolling thing  in  the  family  and  in  all  their  social  inter- 


212  THE       BIG      SFEIIsTI 


course  and  domestic  relations.  Witli  them  the  "chief 
end  of  man,"  was  practically  to  serve  and  glorify  God. 
With  Sir  William  Hamilton,  they  could  have  said  that 
"the  great  end  of  man  is  man,"  realizing  that  the  more 
highly  and  perfectly  man  was  developed  physically,  in- 
tellectually, morally  and  s])iritually,  the  more  he  would 
honor  and  glorify  his  Maker.  "They  were  a  people  of 
a  book,  and  that  book  was  the  Bible."  It  was  read  daily 
in  the  family  at  family  worship,  and  in  the  schools,  and 
not  only  read  but  ably  and  clearly  expounded  on  the 
Sabl^ath.  With  Dr.  Thoinas  Arnold,  of  Rugby  (but 
not  with  his  degenerate  progeny),  they  regarded  the 
school  not  merely  as  "a  place  where  a  certain  amount  of 
general  learning  might  be  obtained,  but  as  a  sphere  of 
intellectual,  moral  and  religious  discipline,  where 
healthy  and  vigorous  characters  are  formed,  and  where 
the  youth  are  trained  for  the  duties,  struggles  and  re- 
sponsibilities of  life."  With  them  no  system  of  educa- 
tion Avas  complete,  in  which  thorough  moral  and  relig- 
ious discipline  was  omitted.  Tlie  great  conservator  and 
arbiter  of  right  among  them  was  the  well  regulated  re- 
ligious and  moral  sentiment  of  the  comnuinity. 

As  these  original  settlers  were  chiefly  farmers,  they 
went  on  improving  their  farms,  educating  their  children, 
and  in  providing  for  the  subsistence  of  tlieir  families  find 
the  support  of  their  schools  and  churches. 

As  I  have  said,  in  1740  there  were  in  Cumberland 
and  Franklin  counties  about  one  thousand  families  and 
eight  or  nine  organized  churches,  none  of  them  nearer  to 
each  other  than  from  eight  to  ten  miles.  In  1850,  as 
shown  by  the  census,  there  were  in  these  two  counties 
four  thousand  and  eighty-nine  farms,  the  greater  part  of 
which  were  still  in  the  hands  of  the  descendents  of  the 
original  settlers. 

Now  the  peculiarity  of  the  Presbyterians  of  the  Cum- 
berland Valley  is,  that  here  for  forty  years  was  to  be 
seen  a  Scotch  Irish   Presbyterian  settlement  more  uni- 


PKESBYTEKIAN       CllUJlC'H.  213 


versal  and  extended,  than  was  to  be  seen  anywhere  else 
iijxtn  this  continent,  a  people  not  only  of  the  same 
nationality  but  of  the  same  religious  faith  and  worsliip; 
of  the  same  homogeneous  tastes  and  dispositions,  dwell- 
ing together  in  peace  and  harmony,  and  ])erforming 
towards  each  other  all  the  offices  of  good  neighborhood; 
a  people  of  great  integrity  and  uprightness  of  character, 
of  pure  and  lofty  j)atriotism  and  of  intelligent  and  con- 
sistent jiict}-.  Here  was  the  Pres])yterian  Church  of 
Ulster  transferred  to  American  soil,  existing  undei*  a 
government  where  equal  rights  were  guaranteed  to  all  its 
citizens,  a  people  knowing  their  own  rights  and  respect- 
ing the  equal  rights  of  others.  To  what  was  their  pecu- 
liarity as  a  religious  community  due?  Is  it  to  be  as- 
cribed to  any  peculiarity  as  to  race  or  blood?  to  their 
Celtic  sprightliness  combined  with  their  Teutonic  obstin- 
acy and  firmness?  to  soil  or  climate?  We  answer  no. 
Whatever  may  be  due  to  these  elements  of  soil,  climate, 
race  or  blood,  their  chief  peculiarity  was  due  to  the  prov- 
idential and  religious  tniining  which  they  had  received. 

Coming  as  they  did  out  of  those  fierce  and  protracted 
persecutions  which  they  and  their  fathers  had  endured 
in  Ireland  and  Scotland,  they  came  with  their  Bibles  and 
Confessions  of  Faith  in  their  hands,  and  well  stored 
away  in  their  minds. 

They  came  ready  to  inscribe  in  bold  characters  u|»on 
their  banners  here,  the  three  great  fundamental  ])rinci- 
])les  of  Presbyterian  ism  and  also  of  religious  and  civil 
liberty,  for  which  they  had  so  bravely  struggled,  viz.: 
loyalty  to  Christ  as  the  supreme  and  only  head  of  the 
church,  the  parity  of  the  ministry,  and  the  right  of  every 
congregation  to  choose  its  own  officei's.  Of  the  truth 
and  importance  of  these  fundamental  principles,  the 
Scotch  and  Scotch  Irish  Presbyterian  ministers  and  peo- 
ple, were  so  fully  pursuaded  that  no  sacrifice  was  too 
great  to  be  endured,  rather  than  either  renounce  or  be- 
trav  them. 


214  THE      BIG       WPEING 

The  Presbyterians  of  Scotland  and  Ireland  having 
been  called  as  the}"  had  been  to  contend  amid  the  niosl 
cruel  and  bloody  prosecutions,  under  which  many  thou- 
sands of  them  had  sacrificed  their  lives  for  the  supreme 
headship  of  Christ  over  his  church,  and  as  a  consequence 
for  its  freedom  from  kingly  and  priestly  domination,  they 
became  the  foremost  friends,  advocates  and  defenders  of 
religious  and  civil  liberty,  as  against  the  usurpations  and 
tyranny  of  both  ecclesiastical  and  civil  rulers. 

The  union  of  church  and  state  had  been  so  close  and 
dependent,  and  the  relations  of  religious  and  civil  liberty 
so  intimate  in  their  bearing  on  each  other,  that  those 
who  contended  for  the  former,  soon  forfeited  the  favor  of 
the  kings  and  prelates.  No  portion  of  the  earl}"  settlers 
of  this  country  so  clearly  comprehended  the  separate 
spheres  of  church  and  state,  as  tlie  Scotch  and  Scotch 
Irish  Presbyterians;  and,  as  a  consequence,  while  they 
were  unwilling  to  allow  the  cliurch  to  be  interfered  with 
or  controlled  by  the  secular  power;  so  for  fear  of  such 
usurpations  as  they  had  already  suffered  from,  they 
would  neither  ask  nor  receive  aid  from  the  state  nor 
sul)mit  to  its  dictation  or  authority  in  matters  of  relig- 
ious faith  and  v*'orship. 

In  their  ])ast  experience,  the  natural  and  constant  al- 
lies of  civil  despotism  had  been  the  Romish  and  Episco- 
pal hierarchies,  and  the  Presley terians  of  Ireland  and 
Scotland  in  their  resistance  to  tyranny  and  oppression 
ha.d  suffei'cd  more  from  the  latter  than  from  the  former, 
for  the  reason  that  the  Episcopal  Church  was  more  fre- 
quently in  the  ascendancy  and  her  prelates  had  much 
greater  influence  over  their  civil  rulers  and  oppressors. 

The  greatest  friends  and  promoters  of  religious  and 
civil  liberty  in  this  land,  liistory  shows,  were  the  Scotch 
and  Scotch  Irish  Presljyterians,  the  Puritans  of  England, 
the  Dutch  of  Holland  and  the  Huguenots  of  France. 

Presbyterian  ism,  as  it  came  therefore  into  the  Cum- 
berland Valley  a  century  and  a  half  ago,  was  not  a  thing 


PRESBYTEKIAN       rHUKCH.  215 


crude  in  its  priiici])les  and  cliaotic  in  its  elements,  but  on 
the  contrary  was  a  clearly  defined  and  tliorouglily  devel- 
oped system  of  religious  faith  and  order.  It  did  not 
come  here  as  something  that  was  passive  and  plastic,  to 
be  determined  in  its  character  and  history  by  the  force 
of  circumstances,  or  by  the  accident  of  its  mere  environ- 
ment, but  its  earliest  propagators  came  with  positive 
o})inions,  with  well  settled  ])rinci])les  and  with  deep  and 
strong  convictions  of  truth  and  duty  and  with  clear  con- 
ceptions of  their  mission  in  laying  tlie  foundations  of  the 
church  in  this  new  world. 

The  early  Presl)yterian  ministei's  came  with  a  system 
of  doctrine  that  was  distinct  and  sharply  defined,  with  a 
form  of  government  conformed  to  the  word  of  God,  and 
with  a  mode  of  worship  that  was  at  once  simple,  h?crip- 
tural  and  spiritual. 

In  tracing  back,  however,  the  lines  of  influence  that 
entered  into  the  formation  of  our  earliest  Churches  and 
Presbyteries  in  this  land,  the  student  of  history  cannot 
stop  at  Ireland  or  Scotland  or  England  or  France  or 
Holland.  All  the  lines  along  which  the  faith  of  the 
Keformed  churches  and  also  of  religion  and  civil  liberty 
and  popular  education,  are  traceable,  stop  not  in  any  of 
these  countries,  but  all  run  through  and  l)eyond  them  to 
that  valley  whicJi  lies  eni])Osomed  in  the  mountains  of 
Switzerland  and  to  the  banks  of  that  beautiful  lake  on 
wliich  stands  the  city  of  Geneva,  whicli  has  for  its  great- 
est distinction,  and  will  have  through  all  time,  that  it 
was  the  home  and  the  scene  of  the  labors  and  achieve- 
ments of  Jolin  Calvin,  t)ie  great  tlieologian  of  the  Refor- 
mation. Here  it  was  that  John  Knox,  many  learned 
P^nglish  Puritans  in  the  bloody  times  of  Mary,  as  well 
as  the  Huguenots  of  France,  fleeing  fi-om  the  persecutions 
at  home,  found  their  way,  and  there  acquired  a  more 
thorough  knowledge  of  the  great  doctrines  of  the  Re- 
formed faith  and  of  the  principles  of  religious  and  civil 
liberty,  and  there  Ijchekl  a  people  governed  l)y  laws  of 


216  THE      BIG      SPRING 


their  own  making,  a  commonwealth  without  kings  or 
nobles,  a  church  without  priests  or  prelates,  and  which 
acknowledged  no  head  but  Christ,  and  whose  doctrines, 
government,  laws  and  officers  were  all  drawn  directly 
from  the  word  of  God,  and  which  had  no  authority  to 
bind  the  conscience  of  any  one,  any  further  tlian  they 
were  sustained  by  the  express  statements  of  the  Scrip- 
tures, or  by  plain  inference  from  their  expressed  teaching. 

It  was  thence  that  our  earliest  ministers  received  their 
chief  impress.  They  were  cast  in  the  mould  of  that 
system  of  religious  faith  and  worship  known  as  the 
"Calvinistic,"  a  system,  says  Froude,  "which  has  ever 
borne  an  inflexible  front  to  illusion  and  mendacity,  and 
has  preferred  rather  to  be  ground  to  powder  like  flint, 
than  to  bend  before  violence,  or  melt  under  enervating 
temptation."  To  Scotland  belongs  the  great  distinction 
of  having  perhaps  more  fully  and  clearly  perceived  and 
held  fast  the  Reformed  Calvinistic  faith  than  any  other 
country.  Says  Macaulay:  "To  the  attempt  to  enslave 
Scotland,  England  owes  its  freedom,"  and  it  may  be 
added,  the  United  States  their  religious  and  civil  liberty. 
This  was  due  to  their  rigid  adherence  to  the  principles  of 
Knox  and  Calvin.  These  were  the  principles  which 
revolutionized  Western  EurojX^,  emancipated  the  masses 
of  the  people  from  civil  and  religious  despotism  and 
secured  civil  and  religious  liberty  for  the  United  States 
of  America. 

Let  some  people  think  and  talk  as  they  may,  the 
American  revolutionary  war  Avas  a  Presbyterian  war, 
waged  chiefly  by  the  English  Puritants  (half  of  whom 
were  originally  Presbyterians),  and  the  Scotch  Irish 
Presbyterians,  for  the  securement  of  independence  of 
Great  Britain  and  the  enjoyment  of  civil  and  religious 
liberty.  As  soon  as  the  trouble  rose  at  Boston,  with  the 
mother  country,  the  cry  rang  out  from  the  Presbyterians 
of  North  and  South  Carolina,  Pennsylvania,  New  Jer- 
sey, Delaware,  Maryland  and  Virginia  in  favor  of  inde- 


I'KEISEYTEKIAX       rilLKCH.  217 


pendcnce.  The  immortal  AVithcrspoon  voiced  the  sen- 
liiiieiil  in  the  Continental  Congress.  Patrick  Henry 
re-eclioed  it  in  the  valle}'  of  Virginia.  The  Presbyteri- 
ans of  the  Cnml^erhuid  Valley  rose  up  cnmasse  and  min- 
ist(>rs  and  people  joined  the  war  of  independence.  Gen- 
erals Armstrong,  Irvine  and  the  gallant  Mercer  com- 
manded the  trooi)s,  Reverends  John  Steel  and  John 
Craigliead  went  forth  as  cajilains  of  companies,  and  Drs. 
John  King,  Robert  Coojier  and  George  Duffield  as 
chaplains  in  the  army. 

The  reason  of  all  this  readiness  to  go,  over  and  above 
the  love  of  liberty  and  their  sense  of  right  and  justice 
inspired  by  their  religion  and  regulated  b}-  the  Divine 
law,  was  that  they  held  in  remembrance  the  grievances 
which  they  had  endured.  They  had  come  through  the 
iircs  of  fierce  and  prolonged  persecutions.  They  liad 
forsaken  their  homes  as  the  President  has  so  well  said 
to-day  "for  God  and  liberty,"  and  by  the  help  of  God, 
they  were  determined  that  the  shackles  of  oppression 
should  not  be  rivited  upon  them  here. 

Such  is  the  estimate  which  in  this  brief  and  hurried 
survey,  we  place  ujion  the  character,  principles  and  hab- 
its of  the  Scotch  Irish  Presbyterians  of  the  Cumberland 
Valley.  We  do  not  claim  for  them  peifection  by  any 
means.  We  do  not  deny  that  they  had  their  defects, 
which  neither  we  nor  they  would  seek  to  palliate  or 
justify.  But  like  the  sun,  which  has  its  spots,  so  what- 
ever defects  they  may  have  had,  they  were  all  over- 
powered and  obscured  by  the  greater  effulgence  of  the 
mass  of  excellencies  wliich  adorned  their  charactei*s,  and 
were  exemplified  in  their  lives. 

Without  any  disparagement  of  the  Quakers  or  the 
( Jermans,  the  other  two  general  divisions  of  the  early 
settlers  in  the  Province  of  Pennsylvania,  we  speak  thus 
more  earnestly  with  resj)ect  to  the  Scotch  Irish  Presl^y- 
terians,  from  the  conviction  that  as  a  ]U'Oj)le,  justice  has 
not  vet  been  done  them  either  in  the  historv  or  the  liter- 


218  THE      BIG      HPKING 


ature  of  the  country. 

THE    LOG    COLLEGE. 

Now  what  of  the  relation  of  the  Presbyterians  of  the 
Cumberland  Valley  to  the  Log  College? 

Soon  after  the  withdrawal  of  the  New  Side  party  from 
the  Synod  in  1741,  the  people  of  Hopewell,  which  in- 
cluded Big  Spring,  Middle  Spring  and  Rocky  Spring 
congregations,  and  the  New  Side  portions  of  Derry,  Up- 
per Pennsboro,  Conococheague  and  other  parts  of  con- 
gregations, sent  supplications  to  the  New  Side  Presby- 
teries of  New  Castle  and  New  Brunswick  for  supplies, 
and  Revs.  Campbell  and  Rowland  were  sent  to  visit 
them. 

Rev.  John  Rowland  was  an  Alumnus  of  the  Log  Col- 
lege and  licentiate  of  the  Presbytery  of  New  Brunswick. 
Although  his  licensure  was  irregular  and  became  the 
occasion  of  a  violent  controversy,  which  issued  in  the 
division  of  the  churcli,  yet  he  was  a  strong  and  impres- 
sive preacher,  and  his  ministry  was  extraordinarily 
blessed  in  what  is  now  Lr.wrenceville  and  Pennington, 
New  Jersey,  to  the  bringing  about  of  a  great  revival  of 
religion  in  both  congregations.  When  he  came  into  the 
Cumberland  Valley  he  came  fresh  from  these  revival 
scenes,  and  much  in  the  spirit  of  Whitefield  and  the 
Tennents.  Mr.  Rowland's  preacliing  is  represented  as 
having  been  with  great  1)0 wer  and  marked  residts 
through  all  these  congregations. 

In  1742,  Big  Spring,  Middle  Spring  and  Rocky  Spring 
churches  united  in  calling  Dr.  John  Blair,  an  alumnus 
of  the  Log  College  and  licentiate  of  the  Presbytery  of 
New  Castle  to  become  their  pastor.  Mr.  Blair  continued 
pastor  of  these  three  congregations  until  1748,  and  most 
probably  until  1756,  when  the  incursions  of  the  Indians 
led  to  his  withdrawal.  In  1757  he  succeeded  his  de- 
ceased brother  Samuel,  at  Faggs  Manor.  In  17{)7  he 
was  chosen  Vice  President  and  Professor  of  Divinity  in 
Princeton  College,  from  wliich   position  he  modestly  re- 


PRESBYTERIAN       CHURCH.  21 1) 


tired  in  1769,  in  favor  of  Dr.  Witherspoon.  He  died  in 
AVnlkill,  New  York,  in  1771  in  tlie  fifty-second  year  of 
liis  age. 

John  Blair,  like  his  brother  Samuel,  was  among  the 
most  talented  and  gifted  ministers  of  his  day.  He  is 
believed  to  have  had  no  snj)erior  as  a  theologian  at  that 
time.  He  was  a  man  of  clear  and  strong  convictions 
with  respect  to  the  do(;trines  of  grace,  and  preached  them 
witli  great  clearness  and  force.  His  ministry  to  the 
three  congregations  in  the  Valley  was  eminently  blessed 
to  the  awakening  of  the  impenitent  and  the  edification 
of  the  peo])le  of  God.  Its  influence  in  favor  of  an  ortho- 
dox faith  and  a  warm  evangelical  l)iety,  is  felt  in  these 
congregations  until  this  day. 

Few  men  ii]  the  history  of  the  church  have  had  so 
many  distinguished  persons  named  after  them.  Dr. 
Samuel  Stanhope  and  Dr.  John  Blair  Smith  were  the 
children  of  one  sister,  and  the  Kices  of  Virginia  were  the 
childien  of  another  sister.  Dr.  William  Linn  was  his 
son-in-law  and  Dr.  John  Blair  Linn  his  grandson. 
Francis  P.  Blair,  the  editor  of  the  Globe  in  Washington, 
and  father  of  Montgomery  and  General  Frank  P.  Blair, 
was  also  a  grandson.  In  the  inscription  upon  his  tomb, 
he  is  spoken  of  as  a  man  of  genius,  a  good  scholar,  an 
excellent  divine,  an  eminent  Christian,  a  man  of  great 
])rudence  and  a  laborious  and  successful  minister,  who 
lived  2;reatlv  beloved  and  died  ij;reatlv  lamented. 

Rev.  John  Roan,  an  alumnus  of  the  Log  College,  and 
a  l)old  and  fearless  preachei*  was  settled  over  the  united 
New  Side  congregations  of  Paxton,  Derry  and  Conewago 
in  174o,  and  labored  there  until  his  death  in  1775,  and 
lies  buried  in  the  graveyard  at  Derry.  On  his  tomb  is 
inscribed,  "Here  lies  the  remains  of  nn  able,  faithful, 
courageous  and  successful  minister  of  Christ."  And 
finally,  Dr.  Benjamin  Rush  and  Governor  John  Dickin- 
son, pu])ils  of  Dr.  Sanuiel  Fiidey,  an  alumiuis  of  the  Log 
College,  while  at  Nottingham,  Maryland,  and  therefore 


220  THE      BIG      SPRING 


graiiclsous  of  the  Log  College,  were  the  founders  of  Dick- 
inson College. 

Few  parts  of  the  Church  or  country  therefore  received 
a  more  direct  or  deeper  impress  from  the  Log  College 
than  the  Cumberland  Valley. 

Notwithstanding  the  distractions  and  the  divisions  oc- 
casioned by  two  violent  religious  controversies,  the  deso- 
lations caused  by  three  protracted  wars,  and  that  great- 
est of  all  calamities,  the  loss  of  Dickinson  College  to  the 
Presbyterian  cause,  the  Churches  of  the  Valley  continue 
their  existence  and  many  of  them  have  had  a  steady  and 
solid  growth.  They  have  been  distinguished  all  through 
their  history  generally  for  a  strict  adherence  to  the  West- 
minster Standards,  for  a  warm  evangelical  piety,  for  zeal 
in  the  promotion  of  revivals  of  religion,  for  their  mis- 
sionary spirit,  and  for  their  regard  for  higher  Christian 
education.  And  although  these  churches  have  been 
subject  to  a  constant  depletion  from  the  great  attraction 
of  the  larger  towns  and  cities  of  the  older  states;  to  a 
perpetual  stream  of  emigration  to  the  more  fertile  ])rairie 
lands  and  growing  towns  of  the  great  west,  and  to  the 
steady  influx  of  the  German  population  from  the  Ger- 
man settlements  in  the  State,  still  the  general  roll  of 
membership  has  not  been  diminished,  and  the  highest 
j^oint  of  Christian  benevolence  ever  attained  was  reached 
the  past  year. 

What  Ulster  has  long  been  with  res])ect  to  the  whole 
religious  world,  the  Cumberland  Valley  has  been  in  re- 
lation to  all  parts  of  this  wide  spread  land.  A  perpetual 
stream  of  emigration  has  gone  out  from  it  to  strengthen 
the  churches  of  the  older  towns  and  cities  and  to  form 
new  ones  in  all  ]^arts  of  the  Great  West. 


PRESBYTEKIAN       ClIUKCH.  221 


CHURCH  ORGANIZATION  1898. 


PASTOR. 

REV.  EBENEZER  ER8KINE,  D.  D. 

RULING    PXDERH. 

EDWIN  R.  HAYS,  ROBERT  MICKEY, 

JOHN  F.  KENDIG,         GEORGE  W.  SWIGERT, 

ELIJAH  J.  ZOOK,  M.  D. 

TRUSTKl^S. 

W.  ALEXANDER  McCULLOUGH,  Pres., 

ROBERT  H.  SOLLENBERGER, 

DANIEL  LECKEY, 
HON.  HARRY  MANNING, 

ATCHISON  LAUGHLIN, 

W.  LINN  DUNCAN, 
JOHN  S.  ELLIOTT. 

TREASURER. 

JOHN  S.  ELLIOTT. 

CHOIR    MASTER.  ORGANIST. 

WILLIAM  J.  LAUGHLIN,    REBECCA  WAGNER. 

SUPT.    OF   SABBATH    SCHOOL. 

EDWIN  R.  HAYS. 

ASSISTANT    SUPT.    SA IJBATII    SCHOOL. 

GEORGE  W.  SWIGERT. 

SUPT.    OF    INFANT    SCHOOL. 

MRS.  MARY  ELLEN  AHL. 

SEXTON. 

JOSEPH  WILT. 


222 


THE      BIG      SPKING 


CONTENTS. 


Introduction  by  Kev.  K.  Erskiue,  D.  L>. 

Pastorate  of  Rev.  Thomas  Craighead,  , 

Pastorate  of  Kev.  John  Blair,  D.  D.,      . 

Pastorate  of  Rev.  George  Duffield,  D.  D., 

Pastorate  of  Rev.  William  Linn,  D.  D., 

Pastorate  of  Rev.  Haniuel  Wilson, 

(Jail  of  Rev.  Samuel  Wilson,     . 

Subscribers  to  the  Salary  of  Rev.  Samuel  Wilson, 

Members  Received  into  the  Church  by  the  Rev.  Samuel  Wilson, 

Petition  for  the  Election  of  an  Elder, 

Proceedings  of  a  Meeting  of  Session, 

Members  and  Adherents  of  the  Church  in  1789, 

John  Carson's  District, 

William  Lindsay's  District, 

John  Bell's  District,       : 

Robert  Patterson's  District, 

Robert  Lusk's  District, 

Samuel  McCormick's  District, 

David  Ralston's  District, 

Hugh  Laughlin's  District, 

John  Robinson's  District, 

John  McKeehan's  District, 

Marriages  by  Rev.  Samuel  Wilson, 

Address  in  the  Marriage  Ceremony  of  Kev.  Samuel  Wilson 

Pastorate  of  Rev.  Joshua  Williams, 

Members  Received  into  the  Church  by  Rev.  Joshua  WiUiams,  D.D. 

Baptisms  by  Rev.  Joshua  Williams,  D:  D., 

Marriages  by  Rev.  Joshua  Williams,  D.  D., 

Members  of  tlie  Female  Bible  Class  in  1817, 

Members  of  the  Male  Bible  Class  in  1817, 

Districts,  Elders  and  Heails  of  Families  in  1808 

Pastorate  of  Rev.  Robert  McCachran,    . 

Marriages  by  Rev.  J^obert  McCachran, 

Baptisms  by  Rev.  Robert  McCuchran.    . 


PRESBYTERIAN       CHURCH. 


223 


Pastorate  of  Rev.  James  S.  H.  Henderson, 

Pastorate  of  Rev.  Philip  H.  Mowry,  D.  D., 

Pastorate  of  Rev.  Ebenezer  Erskine,  D.  1)., 

Church  Buildings, 

Occupants  of  Pews  in  17i>0, 

The  Glebe,   . 

Ruling  Elders  and  Societies  of  the  Church, 

Sons  of  the  Church  who  have  Entered  the  Ministry 

Pastors  of  the  Church, 

Rev.  Thomas  Craighead, 

Rev.  John  Blair,  D.  D.. 

Rev.  George  Duffield,  D.  D.,     . 

Rev.  William  ]Jnn,D.  D., 

Rev.  Samuel  Wilson, 

Rev.  Joshua  Williams,  D.  D., 

Rev.  Robert  McCachran, 

Rev.  James  8.  H.  Henderson, 

Rev.  Philip  H.  Mowry,  D.  D., 

Rev.  Ebenezer  Erskine,  D.  D. 

In  the  Grave  Yard, 

Oiu-  Father's  Resting  Place  (Poem), 

Inscriptions  from  Tomb  Stones, 

Soldiers  Burie<l  in  the  Grave  Yard, 

Appendix  A,  .  .      ■ 

Ai>pendix  B.     Address  by  Rev.  E.  Erskine,  D.  D., 

Church  Organization  1898, 


128 
129 
130 
132 
138 
143 
150 
155 
158 
158 
159 
161 
163 
164 
1(35 
167 
171 
172 
173 
177 
178 
179 
199 
202 
203 
221 


ERRATA. 

On  p;io;e  105,  iniuTia<<e  of  John  M.  Woodhnrn  ami  Lnr-imla  Stewart, 
should  be  Feb.  26,  lcSo7. 

On  page  14o,  "This  trust  was  called  Reliance,"  read.  This  tract  was 
called  Reliance. 

On  page  110  -'John  T.  Dunfee,"  read  James  T.  Dunfee. 

On  page  191,  "McCulloch  Jane  Henderson,"  read  McCulloch  Mary 
Henderson,  wife  of  James. 


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